collective bargaining

noun

: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, hours, and working conditions

Examples of collective bargaining in a Sentence

The next round of collective bargaining is scheduled for September.

Recent Examples on the Web

American sports leagues are, in large part, governed by the terms of the collective bargaining agreements negotiated with their counterpart players unions. —Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Based on the 2020 collective bargaining agreement for the WNBA, the minimum salary for a player has gone up from $57,000 that year to $66,079 in 2025, according to Spotrac. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025

The athletes wore the shirts amid players' union negotiations with the league to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Typically, money earned from equity investments made by owners isn’t shared under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

collective bargaining

noun

: discussion between an employer and union representatives over wages, hours, and working conditions

Legal Definition

collective bargaining

noun

: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions see also bargaining agent at agent, bargaining unit, Labor Management Relations Act