What is a labor union?

A labor union represents a collective of employees who come together with the primary goal of protecting their jobs, enhancing their working conditions, and securing better benefits. The essence of a labor union lies in the pooling of individual worker interests towards a unified agenda, allowing for stronger negotiating power with employers. This collaborative approach facilitates collective bargaining, where unions negotiate contracts that govern various aspects of worker rights and employer obligations, including wages, hours, and workplace safety.

The other options do not accurately define a labor union. Advocating for workers' rights on an individual basis suggests a more solitary approach, lacking the collective strength that a union provides. Similarly, a partnership between management and employees may imply a collaborative framework but does not encompass the adversarial nature of labor relations, where unions often challenge management to secure favorable conditions for workers. Lastly, a government organization overseeing employee regulations implies a regulatory body rather than the collective representation of workers’ interests that unions embody. Overall, the definition emphasizes the importance of collective action in the labor context, which is crucial for effecting change and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.