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Glite Dictionary
organized labor

organized labor

20 3.3
Workers who belong to unions that represent them in talks with employers
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrɡəˌnaɪzd ˈleɪbər/
  • US
translation icon : movimiento sindical
  • In the negotiation meeting, organized labor presented its demands clearly to the management team.
  • organized labor movement
  • organized labor leaders
  • organized labor and business

OK, you can't have organized labor saying the only premise I can start from is that we need no one.

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Examples

  • The general relationship between organized labor, business, and the new democratic regime is quite good.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The current level of variation within organized labor and business in Portugal is typical of a modern democratic society.

    Academic text (1998)

  • But the influence of organized labor and the left on race thinking was far more focused.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Domestic U.S. interests -- small business, organized labor, and particularly affected firms.

    Academic text (1993)

  • For Southern Africa, the popular force that has the most immediate potential is organized labor.

    Academic text (1992)

  • At present, there is significant variation among organized labor and business under the democratic regime.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Regardless of its purpose, any change in conditions or terms of employment may require bargaining with organized labor.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The Irish-American elite was not particularly friendly to organized labor, in either its radical or moderate forms.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Reflecting the waning power of organized labor, union activity declined substantially.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Particularly damaging was McGovern's failure to win the endorsement of organized labor, despite his strong pro-labor voting record.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

union
vsorganized labor
∞ 2.3

A group of workers who act together to protect pay and rights

is the collective workforce represented by such worker organizations in talks
brotherhood
vsorganized labor
  • US
175 3.5

A group of workers that negotiates for better pay and working conditions

is the collective group of employees represented by these internal organizations
labor union
vsorganized labor
  • US
45 2.7

An organized group of workers that negotiates with employers for better pay and working conditions

is the collective body of employees represented in employer negotiations
labor movement
vsorganized labor
  • US
18 3.6

An organized group of workers and unions trying to get better pay and conditions

is the employee body represented in negotiations rather than the wider campaign
trade union
vsorganized labor
12 2.8

A group of workers who protect rights and talk with employers about pay and work conditions

is the collective employee group usually represented by such organizations
trades union
vsorganized labor
  • UK
2.7

A group of workers who join together to protect their pay and rights by talking with employers

is the mass of employees who rely on these organizations for representation

How Unionized

labor movement
  • US
18 3.6
organized labor
  • US
20 3.3
nonunion
1 4.3

Surface Forms

organized labor singular
organized labors plural
organised labours plural
organised labour singular

Morphology

organized + labor

The meaning is compositionally derived: 'organized' modifies 'labor' to mean workers who are organized (i.e., unionized). This follows a standard adjective+noun pattern and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrase organized labor paints a picture of labor — the 'workers' — who are organized into a group called 'unions' so they can act together. That's why it means 'workers represented by a union' in talks with employers about pay and working conditions.