collective bargaining

noun

: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, hours, and working conditions

Examples of collective bargaining in a Sentence

The next round of collective bargaining is scheduled for September.

Recent Examples on the Web

Collier signed a one-year contract with Minnesota following the new collective bargaining agreement that brought a surge of higher salaries to the sport's biggest stars. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The next phase will hinge on whether collective bargaining and changes to the commercial relationships between brands and suppliers can move wages where voluntary factory-level programs have struggled to do so. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Demands and complaints form the basis of strikes and collective bargaining. — Christopher Von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026

The settlement comes less than a month after Uber and Lyft drivers in California secured collective bargaining power for the first time with the certification of the California Gig Workers Union. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

collective bargaining

noun

: discussion between an employer and union representatives over wages, hours, and working conditions

Legal Definition

collective bargaining

noun

: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions see also bargaining agent at agent, bargaining unit, Labor Management Relations Act