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

Begin with a bloated workforce, with too many middle managers and labor unions. —U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025

The decision has sparked fierce pushback from Hollywood labor unions and other late-night show hosts. —Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025

Attempts to ban the tourist attraction by mayors have been stifled for years, in part from opposition by a labor union representing carriage drivers and owners who deny allegations of animal mistreatment. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025

But theater owners, producers and theatrical labor unions strongly opposed the plan, staging boisterous protests in Times Square and packing community hearings in recent months. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 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.