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

That is why the NFL Players Association will consider whether to make a requirement for grass fields across the NFL a top-tier demand in future collective bargaining negotiations with the league, according to a union source. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

The league now says that that system is broken, not just during the life of the current five-year labor deal, but over multiple collective bargaining agreements. — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The league has a plan for how to handle talking publicly about the negotiation for the next collective bargaining agreement between the league and players, which is essentially guaranteed to result in a lockout this offseason. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire in December, the owners have proposed a salary cap system. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 15 July 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