labor union

noun

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of labor union

: 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

See labor union defined for English-language learners

See labor union defined for kids

Recent Examples of labor union from the Web

Similarly, the very first political action committee was created in 1943 by a labor union.

— New York Times, "America Has Gone Off the Rails. Steven Brill Sees Ways to Get It Back on Track.," 2 July 2018
This came just days after Gorsuch voted to overturn precedent in a ruling against labor unions.

— luke darby, GQ, "Susan Collins Has a Chance to Show the American People What She’s Really Made Of," 2 July 2018
Nielsen recently quit his job as a labor union organizer and bought a 16-acre farm in Stewartstown, Pa.

— sarah meehan, baltimoresun.com, "A training program for new farmers is teaching its biggest class yet," 28 June 2018
Tuesday, a labor union that represents Harley workers in Kansas City, Mo., stepped up its criticisms of the company for its plans to close that motorcycle assembly plant.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Donald Trump threatens Harley-Davidson with tax hikes as he prepares to visit Wisconsin," 26 June 2018
In the 1890s, during the violent confrontations between labor union miners and mine owners in north Idaho, Hogan, who was a cook, was sent to Wallace with the National Guard.

— katherine jones, idahostatesman, "'Jimmy the Stiff,' Boise's infamous town drunk, gets a proper toast a century later," 1 June 2018
In the mid-1950s, a third of Americans belonged to a labor union.

— dylan matthews, Vox, "The emerging plan to save the American labor movement," 9 Apr. 2018
Following this Keystone Cops farce, a national labor union encouraged the employees to stage several public protests.

— keith gessen, The New Yorker, "The Chinese Workers Who Assemble Designer Bags in Tuscany," 20 Feb. 2017
The opinion removed caps from independent spending by corporations and labor unions.

— eric tucker, BostonGlobe.com, "A look at some of Justice Kennedy’s most memorable opinions," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'labor union.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of labor union

1849

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Financial Definition of LABOR UNION

labor union

noun

What It Is

A labor union is an organization that advocates for workers' rights and benefits through collective bargaining.

How It Works

Labor unions represent workers in both the public and private sector. Individual labor unions represent workers in specific industries and function in an intermediary capacity between employers and employees. Unions negotiate directly with employers on employees' behalf with regard to compensation, conditions and working hours.

Workers employed by transportation, shipping and manufacturing companies typically maintain contracts with labor unions. The unions agree to engage employers in collective bargaining in return for union dues withheld from payroll. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Steel Workers are two prominent labor unions in the United States.

Why It Matters

Labor unions protect workers from exploitation and ensure fairness of pay as well as safe, reasonable working conditions. Many economists argue that labor unions have a distortive effect on the labor market that results in decreased efficiency.

Source: Investing Answers

LABOR UNION Defined for English Language Learners

labor union

noun

Definition of labor union for English Language Learners

: an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members

LABOR UNION Defined for Kids

labor union

noun

Definition of labor union for Students

: an organization of workers formed to help them get better pay and working conditions

Law Dictionary

labor union

noun

legal Definition of labor union

: 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.