A trade union is an organization that has been formed by workers in order to represent their rights and interests to their employers, for example in order to improve working conditions or wages.
[mainly British]regional note: in AM, usually use labor union
trade union in British English
or trades union
noun
an association of employees formed to improve their incomes and working conditions by collective bargaining with the employer or employer organizations
Derived forms
trade unionism or trades unionism
noun
trade unionist or trades unionist
noun
trade union in American English
1.
labor union
: also Chiefly British trades union
2.
a labor union consisting of workers in a particular trade or craft
Derived forms
trade unionism
trade unionist
Examples of 'trade union' in a sentence
trade union
I bought it through the trade union and was paying 11 % interest on my mortgage.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It was on the side of business so as to shed its association with the trade unions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is said to be the first example of a trade union or staff association brokering a school improvement service.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We need to talk through with the trade unions and staff associations about what that trade-off is.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If you are a trade union or staff association member, talk to your representative.
The Sun (2009)
Firms looking to cut pay must win agreement from staff, a trade union or staff association.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The trade union group said that one of the reasons was that young women worked mainly in sectors where the pay was lower.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The numbers involved in exclusively Protestant trade unions were about fifty thousand.
Michael Burleigh Earthly Powers: Religion and Politics in Europe from the Enlightenment to the GreatWar (2005)
It is vital to consult with trade unions, staff representatives or directly with the workforce.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One of his first acts was to reduce working hours, and he encouraged his staff to join trade unions.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The trade unions are always, always, always wrong.
The Sun (2015)
The central question is the trade unions' financial links to Labour.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The society has a grand old history - but nowadays it's chiefly a trade union and trade association.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Nearly three quarters of the donations given to Labour since he took over in 2010 have come from trade unions.
The Sun (2014)
A legal change being proposed by the government would lead to the party losing as much as 6 million a year in funding from trade unions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He said: 'There are many people in the trade union movement who feel that if we pay the piper we are going to call the tune.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
trade union
British English: trade union /treɪd ˈjuːnjən/ NOUN
A trade union is an organization formed by workers in order to represent their rights and interests to their employers.
American English: labor union
Arabic: نِقَابَةُ عُمَّال
Brazilian Portuguese: sindicato
Chinese: 工会
Croatian: sindikat
Czech: odbory
Danish: fagforening
Dutch: vakbond
European Spanish: sindicato
Finnish: ammattiyhdistys
French: syndicat
German: Gewerkschaft
Greek: συνδικάτο
Italian: sindacato
Japanese: 労働組合
Korean: 노동조합
Norwegian: fagforening
Polish: związek zawodowy
European Portuguese: sindicato
Romanian: sindicat
Russian: профсоюз
Latin American Spanish: sindicato
Swedish: fackförening
Thai: สหภาพแรงงาน
Turkish: sendika
Ukrainian: профспілка
Vietnamese: công đoàn
Chinese translation of 'trade union'
trade union
(esp Brit)
n(c)
工会(會) (gōnghuì) (个(個), gè)
美 = labor union
union
(ˈjuːnjən)
n
(u) (= unification) 合并 (hébìng)
⇒ We are working for the union of the two countries.我们正为这两个国家的合并而努力。 (Wǒmen zhèng wèi zhè liǎng gè guójiā de hébìng ér nǔlì.)