What is an organized group of workers called that bargains with employers for better pay and working conditions?

The term that describes an organized group of workers who negotiate with employers for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions is a union. Unions are formed to give workers a collective voice, allowing them to advocate for their rights more effectively than they could as individuals. This collective bargaining process enables workers to negotiate for better terms of employment, ensuring their interests are represented.

Unions have historically played a vital role in the labor movement, influencing legislation and workplace reforms. By pooling their efforts, workers in a union can put pressure on employers and negotiate from a position of strength, often resulting in more favorable outcomes than if negotiations were conducted individually.

In contrast, guilds are associations primarily associated with skilled trades in medieval times, which focused more on regulating the quality of their work and training apprentices rather than collective bargaining with employers. Associations may refer more broadly to any organized group but do not specifically indicate a focus on labor and worker rights. Fraternities typically refer to social organizations that may include elements of brotherhood or camaraderie rather than labor representation. Thus, the concept of a union best encapsulates the organized effort of workers negotiating collectively for better conditions.