closed union: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “closed union” mean?
A labor union that restricts membership to a specific group or profession, often requiring membership for employment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A labor union that restricts membership to a specific group or profession, often requiring membership for employment.
Historically, a union whose membership was limited by factors such as race, gender, or religion; more broadly, any organization with exclusive membership criteria.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in historical British contexts (e.g., craft guilds). In modern American usage, the term 'union shop' or 'agency shop' is often used for similar concepts, while 'closed union' retains a more historical/technical flavor.
Connotations
In the UK, often associated with traditional craft unions and the pre-Thatcher era. In the US, strongly associated with discriminatory practices of the past and current debates on 'right-to-work' laws.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary everyday speech in both varieties. Appears almost exclusively in academic, legal, or historical discussions on labor.
Grammar
How to Use “closed union” in a Sentence
The [trade] was a closed union.They operated under a closed union system.The law prohibited closed unions.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “closed union” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The printers' guild sought to closed-union their trade.
American English
- The industry attempted to closed-union its workforce.
adverb
British English
- [Not standardly used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not standardly used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The closed-union system prevailed in many skilled trades.
American English
- Closed-union practices were eventually outlawed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in HR and industrial relations regarding hiring practices and union agreements.
Academic
Analyzed in labor history, sociology, and law for its social and economic impact.
Everyday
Virtually unused in casual conversation.
Technical
A precise term in labor law and industrial relations textbooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “closed union”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “closed union”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “closed union”
- Confusing it with a 'closed shop' (where you must join the union to work) – a 'closed union' is the union itself that restricts members.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'closed shop' is a workplace where you must be a union member to be hired. A 'closed union' is the union itself that limits its own membership.
In most Western countries, unions that explicitly discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or religion are illegal. However, unions for specific professions (e.g., a pilots' union) are still 'closed' in the sense of being profession-specific, which is legal.
It carries historical baggage of excluding people based on factors unrelated to skill, such as ethnicity or family connections, which is seen as unfair and discriminatory.
It is better to use more precise modern terms like 'restrictive membership criteria' or refer to the specific type of union (e.g., 'craft union', 'professional association'). 'Closed union' is best reserved for historical or legal discussions.
A labor union that restricts membership to a specific group or profession, often requiring membership for employment.
Closed union is usually formal, technical in register.
Closed union: in British English it is pronounced /kləʊzd ˈjuːnjən/, and in American English it is pronounced /kloʊzd ˈjunjən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms. Field-specific term.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLOSED door to a UNION hall – only some are allowed in.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMBERSHIP IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB.
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary characteristic of a 'closed union'?