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

On Langston Hughes, Sterling Brown, and the impact of Black labor unions on poetry. —Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025

But now Nevada labor unions hoping to boost jobs and tourism are pushing state officials to offer tax credits aimed at bringing more Hollywood filmmaking to the state. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025

General strikes, led by labor unions and professional associations, as in Sudan or Myanmar, can be particularly effective. —Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2025

While the group has declined to reveal its donors, past support has come from select labor unions, charter school groups and business interests, like the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Denver’s apartment association, according to tax and campaign finance filings. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 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.