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.

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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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of collective bargaining

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collective bargaining

Silver had to follow guidelines spelled out in the NBA collective bargaining agreement and could not unilaterally decide whether the Clippers would be punished and how severely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 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

UAW President Shawn Fain derided the unprecedented offer, calling it an effort to avoid the regular collective bargaining process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Boeing BA -0.42%decrease; down pointing triangle engineers and technical workers rejected the jetmaker’s proposal for four-year collective bargaining agreements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 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