trade union

American  

noun

1. a labor union of craftspeople or workers in related crafts, as distinguished from general workers or a union including all workers in an industry.

2. labor union.

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trade union British  

noun

1. an association of employees formed to improve their incomes and working conditions by collective bargaining with the employer or employer organizations

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Other Word Forms

• trade unionism noun
• trade unionist noun
• trade-union adjective

Etymology

Origin of trade union

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

They said they were negotiating with trade union representatives about proposals to change the "academic staffing model" which would increase the use of grade 6 academic tutors, the lowest grade of staff.

From BBC

Organised by hundreds of groups, including trade unions, anti-racism campaigners and Muslim representative bodies, the Together Alliance event was billed as the biggest march in UK history to counter the far right.

From Barron's

The "no" campaign already has the backing of trade unions.

From BBC

It was Walentynowicz's dismissal in 1980 that triggered the huge shipyard strike and the creation of the first free trade union in the Communist bloc.

From Barron's

Reid added that she was a social democrat who believed in "freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections" and was not any sort of "admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party's dictatorship".

From BBC