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

Larson has touted his support from labor unions around the state including an endorsement from the Working Families Party. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026

But labor unions in both South Korea and the United States clearly want to see stronger commitments from automakers in the face of such automation efforts. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026

The final half hour of Rogan’s interview dealt with Vance’s book, his surprising support of labor unions, and the effect of immigration on wages. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Company representatives emphasized the tax revenue generated by up to $2 billion in investment at the site and local labor unions' support for the roughly 600 construction jobs estimated at peak buildout. — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 July 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.