labor union

American  

noun

1. an organization of wage earners or salaried employees for mutual aid and protection and for dealing collectively with employers; trade union.

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labor union Cultural  

1. An organization of workers formed to promote collective bargaining with employers over wages, hours, fringe benefits, job security, and working conditions.

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Etymology

Origin of labor union

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

"Around 10:00 pm on May 19, the labor union agreed to the mediation proposal put forward by the National Labor Relations Commission; however, management expressed its refusal," it said in a statement earlier Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Samsung and its labor union are holding post-mediation talks this week in a final effort to reach a settlement.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

McOsker later worked as an attorney and registered city lobbyist representing the hotel industry and the Los Angeles Police Department’s labor union.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“No one is assigned to do labor union cases, and the unions have every reason to believe no one is looking.”

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

As a carpenter, Southside wasn’t allowed to work for the larger construction firms that offered steady pay on long-term projects, given that he couldn’t join a labor union.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• trade union