company union: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Formal, Technical, Critical
Quick answer
What does “company union” mean?
A trade union created or dominated by an employer, typically not representing workers' interests independently.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A trade union created or dominated by an employer, typically not representing workers' interests independently.
An organization that has the form of a labor union but lacks genuine independence from management, often serving to prevent the formation of a legitimate, worker-led union. Can metaphorically describe any organization that appears to represent a group but is controlled by the opposing side.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept and term are used in both varieties, but the specific legal and historical context differs. In the UK, similar historical entities were sometimes called 'yellow unions' or were part of broader 'sweetheart agreements'. The US usage is more directly tied to specific anti-union tactics and labor law history.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties, denoting a lack of genuine worker representation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in academic and legal discussions of labor history and union-busting.
Grammar
How to Use “company union” in a Sentence
[The/This/Their] union is/was a company union.The management created/established a company union.They accused the union of being a company union.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “company union” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm was accused of attempting to company-unionise its workforce.
American English
- The corporation was found guilty of company-unionizing to avoid genuine collective bargaining.
adjective
British English
- They dismissed the agreement as a company-union deal.
American English
- The workers rejected the company-union tactics of the new HR director.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically in discussions of labor relations, often by independent unions accusing a rival organization of being illegitimate.
Academic
Common in labor history, industrial relations, sociology, and political science to describe a specific anti-union strategy.
Everyday
Rare. If used, it is in a discussion about workplace politics or union issues.
Technical
A precise term in labor law and industrial relations, often with legal definitions (e.g., under the US National Labor Relations Act, such organizations are illegal).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “company union”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “company union”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “company union”
- Using it as a neutral term for any in-house union (it is always critical).
- Confusing it with a 'trade union' that simply operates within one company (an 'enterprise union' can be independent).
- Writing it as 'company-union' (usually open compound).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. An 'in-house' or 'enterprise union' is a union that represents workers at a single company, which can be legitimate and independent. A 'company union' is a pejorative term for such a union *when it is controlled by the employer*.
In many countries, including the US and UK, employer domination or interference in a union is illegal. Organizations deemed 'company unions' lack legal standing as bona fide bargaining representatives.
Yes, metaphorically. For example, a 'student council' completely controlled by the school administration might be cynically called a 'company union'.
A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a contract negotiated by a union. A company union is a *type of organization* that might sign a CBA, but that CBA would likely be seen as illegitimate because the 'union' side is not independent.
A trade union created or dominated by an employer, typically not representing workers' interests independently.
Company union is usually formal, technical, critical in register.
Company union: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌmpəni ˈjuːnɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌmpəni ˈjuːnjən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A wolf in sheep's union clothing.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'company union' as a 'union' that keeps the *company's* interests first, not the workers'. It's the company's pet union.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PUPPET / MARIONETTE (the union is controlled by the employer's strings). A SHAM / FACADE (it looks like a real union but isn't).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'company union'?