Japanese word

労働組合

Pronunciation

Romajirōdōkumiai

Meaning

  • nounlabor union

Example

この会社には労働組合があります。ko no gai sha ni wa rō dō kumi ai ga a ri ma su

This company has a labor union.

Illustration for 労働組合 (labor union)

More examples

労働組合は会社側と賃金や勤務条件について交渉します。rō dō kumi ai wa gai sha gawa to chin gin ya kin mu jō ken ni tsu i te kō shō shi ma su

The labor union negotiates with the company about wages and working conditions.

Core concept

Refers to an organized group that represents workers and negotiates with an employer over their shared working conditions.

Common phrases

  • 労働組合に加入するrō dō kumi ai ni ka nyū su ru

    join a labor union

  • 労働組合を結成するrō dō kumi ai o kes sei su ru

    form a labor union

  • 労働組合と交渉するrō dō kumi ai to kō shō su ru

    negotiate with a labor union

Similar words

労組rōso: A shortened name for a labor union representing workers in talks about work conditions.
ユニオンyunion: A term for a labor union, often used in names and everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

労働者が労働条件の改善などを求めて組織する団体。rō dō sha ga rō dō jō ken no kai zen na do o moto me te so shiki su ru dan tai

Word origin

労働 (rōdō, "labor") combines 労 (rō, "toil") and 働 (dō, "work"), while 組合 (kumiai, "association") combines 組 (so, "group") and 合 (gō, "join"); together they mean a workers' association.

Usage tips

  • A labor union can represent workers across one workplace or an entire industry, so the phrase does not necessarily refer to a single company.

Related words

  • 労働組合員rōdōkumiaiinlabor union membernoun

Word lists with this word