Labor unions are organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and improve working conditions. Powerful labor unions refers to those that were able to successfully advocate for the rights and interests of their members, often through collective bargaining and strikes.
Related terms
Collective Bargaining: Collective bargaining is when representatives from a labor union negotiate with employers on behalf of workers to reach agreements on wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Strikes: Strikes occur when workers collectively refuse to work as a way to protest poor working conditions or demand better treatment from employers.
Knights of Labor: The Knights of Labor was one of the first national labor unions in the United States, known for advocating for an eight-hour workday, equal pay for men and women, and child labor laws.