trade-unionist

A trade-unionist discusses a new contract with management.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a trade union: "trade-unionist" refers to an individual who belongs to an organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests.
   • An advocate of trade unionism: The word also denotes a person who supports or promotes the principles and practices of trade unions, especially collective bargaining and worker solidarity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • My grandfather was a dedicated trade-unionist who fought for fair wages. (A person who is a member of a workers' organization.)
  • The conference was attended by trade-unionists from various industries. (Individuals who advocate for union rights.)

Advanced Usage

• "trade-unionist movement": the collective activity or organized efforts of trade-unionists.

  • The trade-unionist movement gained momentum in the early 20th century. (The push for unionization and worker protections grew stronger.)

• "to be a trade-unionist at heart": to strongly believe in the principles of unionism.

  • Even after retiring, he remained a trade-unionist at heart. (He continued to support worker solidarity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trade union (n): an organized association of workers formed to protect their rights.

  • The trade union negotiated better working conditions. (The workers' group bargained for improvements.)

• Trade unionism (n): the system or practice of forming and operating trade unions.

  • Trade unionism is a key feature of labour movements worldwide. (The ideology behind unions.)

• Unionist (n): a person who supports or belongs to a union, often used interchangeably with "trade-unionist" in certain contexts.

  • He is a lifelong unionist. (A supporter of union principles.)

Synonyms

• Union member: a person who is part of a trade union.
• Labour activist: someone who actively promotes workers' rights.
• Organized worker: a worker who belongs to a formal labour group.

Related Idioms

• To stand in solidarity: to unite with others for a common cause, often used in trade-unionist contexts.

  • The trade-unionists stood in solidarity during the strike. (They supported each other collectively.)

• To bargain collectively: to negotiate as a group rather than individually.

  • Trade-unionists bargain collectively to secure better contracts. (They negotiate together for mutual benefit.)