Legal Definitions - organized labor

Organized labor refers to workers who are members of a labor union. It also collectively describes labor unions themselves, especially when considered as a unified political or economic force.

Organized Labor refers to two related concepts:

• First, it describes workers who have joined a labor union to collectively bargain for their rights, wages, and working conditions.
• Second, it refers to labor unions themselves, or the collective body of unions, when considered as a unified economic, social, or political force.

Here are some examples to illustrate this term:

• Example 1 (Workers as Union Members): Imagine a group of nurses at a private hospital who decide to form a union to advocate for safer staffing levels and better health insurance benefits. Once these nurses successfully organize and become dues-paying members of the new union, they are considered part of organized labor within that hospital system.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the first definition, where individual workers affiliate themselves with a union to collectively pursue common goals, thereby becoming part of the organized workforce.

• Example 2 (Unions as a Collective Political Force): During a state legislative session, several prominent public sector unions—such as those representing teachers, firefighters, and sanitation workers—jointly lobby lawmakers to pass a bill that would increase pension benefits for all state employees. They also organize a rally at the state capitol to demonstrate their collective support.

  Explanation: This demonstrates the second definition, where multiple unions act together as a unified political force to influence legislation and public policy, leveraging their combined membership and resources.

• Example 3 (A Union as an Economic Force): A major union representing dockworkers at several busy ports enters into negotiations with shipping companies for a new contract. The union demands higher wages and improved safety protocols, threatening a strike if their demands are not met. The potential for a work stoppage gives the union significant leverage in these discussions.

  Explanation: This example highlights a single union acting as a powerful economic force on behalf of its members. Its ability to disrupt operations through collective action demonstrates its influence in securing better terms for its affiliated workers.