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

Recent leadership and technology changes have prompted warnings from lawmakers, labor unions, advocates and former officials that millions of beneficiaries could soon face delays or interruptions in their monthly payments. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

The city employs upwards of 3,000 workers, most of which are represented by organized labor unions. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 31 July 2025

The conflict ultimately soured relationships between the leadership of the top labor unions and left a rift. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025

Sean O’Brien, the leader of one of the largest and arguably one of the most powerful labor unions in the land, had just broken with tradition and spoken at the GOP gathering. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025

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.