National Labor Union (NLU)

Definition

The National Labor Union was the first national labor federation in the United States, founded in 1866. It sought to improve working conditions through legislative reform rather than collective bargaining.

Related terms

Collective Bargaining: Negotiations between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions.

Trade Unions: Organizations of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, improving safety standards, and attaining better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Eight-hour Day Movement: A social movement to regulate the length of a working day, preventing abuses by employers.