craft union
Definition
- Noun:
- A labor union whose membership is restricted to workers in a particular skilled trade or craft: A "craft union" is an organization of workers who all practice the same specific occupation or possess the same specialized skills, such as carpenters, electricians, or plumbers. Its primary purpose is to represent these workers in matters like wages, working conditions, and training standards.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The carpenters formed a craft union to negotiate better safety standards.
- Membership in the electricians' craft union requires completion of a certified apprenticeship program.
Advanced Usage
- Historical context: Craft unions were among the earliest forms of labor organization, often contrasted with industrial unions, which represent all workers in a particular industry regardless of their specific job.
- In the 19th century, craft unions were powerful in protecting the wages and status of skilled trades.
Variants and Related Words
- Trade union (or labor union) (n): The broader category of worker organizations to which a craft union belongs.
- Both craft unions and industrial unions are types of trade unions.
- Industrial union (n): A labor union that organizes all workers in a specific industry, skilled and unskilled.
- The automobile workers' union is an example of an industrial union, not a craft union.
Synonyms
- Trade union (in a specific, narrow sense): When referring specifically to a union for a skilled trade.
- Skilled workers' union: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the membership criteria.
Related Phrases
- Union jurisdiction: The specific trades, crafts, or jobs over which a union has the right to represent workers. Craft unions are defined by their strict jurisdictional boundaries.
- A dispute arose between two craft unions over which had jurisdiction over the installation of certain equipment.
Noun
-
a labor union whose membership is restricted to workers in a particular craft
