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

But with a lack of historical perspective due to term limits and facing powerful labor union influence, state legislators from both parties seem destined to repeat the mistake of the past. — Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), the labor union that represents WNBA players, released a statement on Friday in the wake of his announcement. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Local 11, the hospitality worker labor union that raised the safety complaint on behalf of employees. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Kim, who led the field in June’s crowded primary, was endorsed Tuesday by the California Federation of Labor Unions, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO that represents more than 1,300 state labor unions. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 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.