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

The game went on despite ongoing negotiations between the USL Players Association and the league, which have not reached new collective bargaining agreement with the last agreement expiring at the end of 2025. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 8 Mar. 2026

International films are quite frequently excluded from eligibility because they’re generally not written by WGA members who are under the guild’s collective bargaining agreement. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 Mar. 2026

The collective bargaining agreement became Brzezinski’s area of expertise. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

The Sheridan Educators Association has had a collective bargaining agreement in place for more than 50 years, but district officials have refused to reinstate it or to recognize classified employees in their union, according to a news release from the union. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, 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