labor movement

American

noun

labor unions collectively.

The labor movement supported the bill.
the complex of organizations and individuals supporting and advocating improved conditions for labor.
the effort of organized labor and its supporters to bring about improved conditions for the worker, as through collective bargaining.

Their activities proved more harmful than helpful to the labor movement.

labor movement Cultural

The movement of workers for better treatment by employers, particularly through the formation of labor unions.

Etymology

Origin of labor movement

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I love her so much — she was a big part of our civil rights and labor movement.

From Los Angeles Times

On a broad and somewhat scholarly level, “Autobiography of Cotton” details Mexico’s postindependence labor movements and land reforms.

From The Wall Street Journal

That raises the question: In today’s economy, where reasonable work hours, paid-time off and protection against unfair dismissal have become the norm for most workers, can a weakened labor movement survive and thrive?

From The Wall Street Journal

There were even some calls from unions for working hours to be shortened further, but those fizzled out as the labor movement lost ground toward the end of the 20th century.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a fifth-generation Chinese American, Wong had always understood the struggle of immigrants, and sought to connect the labor movement across borders.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023