labor union

noun

: an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions

… members of a labor union with job protection under a collective bargaining agreement with the employer.

—Seth Sandronsky

Examples of labor union in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An energized Mayor Karen Bass galvanized crowds of labor union workers sporting union merch Saturday. —Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

There are very few members of Congress who have been in labor unions, who have been bargaining committee members. —Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 31 May 2026

Since joining the race amid the Proposition 50 vote, von Wilpert has built a coalition drawing on more support from labor unions, a traditional but powerful base of support in Democratic politics. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

Meanwhile, business groups — including the state Chamber of Commerce — and labor unions warned that pausing the tax break put Ohio at risk of losing tech-sector investments to other states. —Marc Levy, Fortune, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for labor union

• antiunion
• communion
• disunion
• nonunion

Kids Definition

labor union

noun

: an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and advance the interests of its members concerning wages, benefits, and working conditions

Legal Definition

labor union

noun

: a labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions see also craft union, bargaining unit

Note: Labor unions and employers are subject to the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA or Wagner Act), as amended by the Labor Management Relations (Taft-Hartley) Act and the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure (Landrum-Griffin) Act. The NLRA authorized the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency which administers the provisions of the Act.