From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtrade unionˌtrade ˈunion (also trades union) noun [countable] British English BELan organization, usually in a particular trade or profession, that represents workers, especially in meetings with employers SYN labor union American English —trade unionist noun [countable] —trade unionism noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
trade union• The farm worker has himself contributed, though as often as not by leaving the industry rather than by joining a trade union.• Wholesale changes took place within the management and trade union organisations, with the good going out with the bad.• This was the proposal to rush punitive trade union legislation through Parliament while the strike was in progress.From Longman Business Dictionarytrade unionˌtrade ˈunion (also trades union British English), labor union American EnglishHUMAN RESOURCESORGANIZATIONS an organization representing people working in a particular industry or profession that protects their rightsThe European Convention on Human Rights declared that everyone had a right to join a trade union.How has trade union membership changed in recent years?TGWU, the transport union —trade unionist, trades unionist noun [countable]She was an active trade unionist and had lately been elected a shop steward. → union 