Labor Union Definition, Examples & How It Works

Meaning 1：workers' association (Labor union)

Labor union 🔊

/ˈleɪbər ˈjuːnjən/

A group of workers who join together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.

Diverse workers holding hands in a circle at factory, labor union unity

workers' association 🔊

➕

/ˈwɜːrkərz əˌsoʊʃiˈeɪʃən/

A labor union is an organized group of employees who band together to negotiate with employers for better wages, benefits, working conditions, and other workplace rights through collective action.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Labor from Latin 'labor' meaning work; union from Latin 'unus' meaning one, together.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'labor' (work) and 'union' (together) – workers unite to have a stronger voice.

📖 Example

The labor union helped the employees secure better health insurance benefits through peaceful negotiations. 🔊 The labor union helped the employees secure better health insurance benefits through peaceful negotiations.

🔗 Collocations

join a labor union – become a member of a workers' organization

labor union representative – a person elected to speak and negotiate on behalf of union members

labor union contract – a formal agreement between a union and an employer covering wages, hours, and conditions

🔄 Synonyms

trade union (n.) – an organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests

workers' union (n.) – a group of employees who collectively bargain with their employer

employee association (n.) – a voluntary organization of workers that promotes their common interests

🚫 Antonyms

employer association (n.) – an organization of employers formed to represent their interests in labor negotiations

🌱 Derivatives

unionize (v.) – to organize workers into a labor union

unionization (n.) – the process of forming or joining a labor union

unionist (n.) – a member or supporter of a labor union

📖 Cultural Story

Labor unions originated during the Industrial Revolution when workers united to demand fair wages, reasonable hours, and safer conditions. The term became prominent in 19th-century collective bargaining movements.