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

But government and guilds could require studios to maintain real training tracks in exchange for tax credits, permits or collective bargaining agreements. —Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025

Fannell worked for 10 years with the MLBPA, negotiating arbitration cases and working directly with MLB to enforce its collective bargaining agreement. —Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

This level of visibility couldn’t have come at a better time for a group of players in the midst of contentious negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). —Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2025

With the collective bargaining agreement ending after next season, a salary cap discourse may lead to a lockout. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 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