union membership
Organized labor participation
Union membership is the state of belonging to a labor union—an organization that represents workers in negotiations with employers over wages, benefits, and working conditions.
The term also refers collectively to those who belong: Union membership has declined sharply since the 1970s.
Members typically pay dues and gain the right to vote on contracts and union leadership.
- good standingFavorable status or reputation
- shop stewardElected worker liaison
- shop floorIndustrial production workspace
- right-to-work lawsLaws banning mandatory union dues
- fair wagesReasonable compensation for labor
collective bargaining · solidarity · industrial action · walk the line · unionization · rank-and-file · strike fund · pension rights · labor organizing · labor movement · unfair labor practices · worker empowerment · workplace safety · picket · arbitration · contract negotiation · benefits · grievance
- affiliationsmember, affiliate, associate, subscriber, patron
- laborlabor, work, labor force, laborers, labor movement
- membershipsannual fee, initiation fee, member card, renewal notice, active member
- labor economicsjob market, labor supply, labor demand, employment rates, unemployment rates
- labor lawlabor code, labor law, labor laws, labor standards, labour law
- labor historyAFL-CIO, workers, labor movement, CIO, laborers
union membershipopen shop
Workplace without mandatory union membership
union busting · right-to-work · at-will employment · decertification
union membershipself-employment
Working for yourself
freelancing · gig work · contract work · at-will employment · sole proprietorship