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

The bill represented a compromise between state leaders and a coalition of progressive lawmakers and labor unions who’d pushed hard for the proposal. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

The symbolic initial rejection of Moskowitz came after Larkin had been lobbying labor union leaders against him. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

But the plans could hit hurdles since state politicians and labor union representatives together make up a majority of VW’s supervisory board. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 29 June 2026

Other groups, like the California Teachers Association and numerous labor unions, have begun running digital ads to highlight the unintended financial consequences of this one-time tax on billionaire wealth. — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 26 June 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.