union

The word “union” means an organized group of workers formed to protect their rights and negotiate with employers. In plain terms, most commonly, either a workers' organization, or the joining of two things (countries, people, sets) into one.

“Union” is pronounced YOO-nyuhn (/ˈjuː.njən/ in IPA).

Here is “union” used in a sentence: “The union voted to go on strike over pay.”

“Union” is a noun.

The word “union” comes from Late Latin. From Old French union, from Late Latin unio ("oneness, unity"), from Latin unus ("one").

“Union” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Union” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an organized group of workers formed to protect their rights and negotiate with employers.

There is no real difference — they are two names for the same thing. 'Trade union' is the usual term in Britain and much of the Commonwealth, while 'labor union' is standard American English. Both mean an organised group of workers that bargains collectively with employers over pay and conditions.

A single worker has little bargaining power, but a union lets employees negotiate as one, giving them real leverage over wages, hours, safety and job security. Unions also represent members in disputes, enforce fair treatment and give workers a collective voice that management is far harder to ignore.

Common forms include craft unions, which organise workers of one skilled trade; industrial unions, which cover everyone in a single industry regardless of job; and general unions, which take members from many trades and industries. Public-sector unions represent government and civil-service employees specifically.

Chiefly through collective bargaining — negotiating pay, hours and conditions on behalf of all members at once. Unions also represent individuals in grievances and disciplinary hearings, press for safe workplaces, and can organise industrial action such as strikes when talks break down, using numbers as leverage.