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 unrest began with a handful of student demonstrations over crumbling infrastructure and overcrowded high-school classrooms, then rippled across France to encompass labor unions with grievances over the cost of living. — Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026

Crabtree also banned him from working for a labor union or a retirement or health benefit plan regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for 13 years after his prison term. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2026

Waymo operates commercially in 15 US cities, but has faced opposition from labor unions, ride-hailing giants such as Uber and Lyft, and various AI-skeptical groups and pedestrian safety advocates. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026

The two progressive labor unions were once allies, but their relationship fractured last year amid a labor dispute. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 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.