collective bargaining

American  

noun

1. the process by which wages, hours, rules, and working conditions are negotiated and agreed upon by a union with an employer for all the employees collectively whom it represents.

---

collective bargaining British  

noun

1. negotiation between one or more trade unions and one or more employers or an employers' organization on the incomes and working conditions of the employees

---

collective bargaining Cultural  

1. Negotiations by representatives of a group of employees, often a labor union, pertaining to conditions of employment, such as wages and working conditions.

---

Etymology

Origin of collective bargaining

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collective bargaining

At the event at the Ironworkers Training Center in La Palma organized by labor leaders to oppose the wealth tax, apprentices attended workshops about rigging and collective bargaining rights.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union expires after the 2030 season, and owners have indicated they want continuity through those negotiations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

The strike comes after a two-day dispute in February over collective bargaining and the use of volunteers at the airport.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

The lawsuit said that the bonuses violate a decades-old law that stipulates collective bargaining between unions and the mayor—not legislation—determines compensation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

After collective bargaining failed, Carnegie shut down its Homestead plant and locked out the union workers.

From "Fannie Never Flinched" by Mary Cronk Farrell