unionize
YOO-nyuh-naiz
/ˈjuːnjənaɪz/
To organize workers into a labor union or to become a member of a trade union.
Describes collective worker action aimed at gaining bargaining power over pay, benefits, and safety conditions.
The story behind the word. Rooted in Latin 'unus' meaning 'one', trade unions represent workers combining distinct individual voices into a single collective negotiator.
Word relationships
- organize: Organize is broader and can refer to non-union community coalitions.
- federate: Federate refers specifically to organizations joining into a larger federal alliance.
- deunionize: To dismantle or remove labor union representation from a workplace.
Commonly confused with
- unify: Unify means to bring disparate parts into a single entity; unionize specifically means establishing a formal labor trade union.
Word family
- union (noun): An organized association of workers formed to protect their rights.
- unionization (noun): The process of organizing employees into a trade union.
Collocations
- effort to unionize
- vote to unionize
- right to unionize
- unionize the workforce
Example sentences
- "Warehouse workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize following disputes over forced overtime and heat conditions." Labor Relations
- "Management launched an anti-union campaign when retail employees signaled their intent to unionize." Corporate Management
Memory hook
UNIONIZE makes workers act as ONE unit against giant corporations. Unionize = Make into ONE voice.
When not to use
Do not confuse with merging two commercial corporations, which is a merger or consolidation.
Fun facts
- In US English, the spelling is 'unionize', while British English often uses 'unionise'.
Related words
Explore more words
unite, industrialize, mobilize, synergize, mechanize, centralize
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