Definition of the word unionize

The word "unionize" derives from the mid-19th century labor movement in the United States. As industrialization led to the growth of factories and employers gaining more power than individual workers, organized groups of workers began forming associations to advocate for better working conditions and wages. The term "union" comes from the Old French word "unio" meaning "a joining or combining of parts" or "wholeness." In this context, it refers to a group of workers coming together to form a collective body. The practice of forming these organizations to improve working conditions and wages was so successful that workers began using the term "unionize" to refer to the process of establishing a union. The first national organization for workers, the National Trades' Union, was founded in the US in 1834. However, it was not until the 1860s, during the American Civil War, that the more successful labor organization, the National Labor Union (NLU), was created. The NLU was established to fight for an eight-hour workday, better wages, and safer working conditions. The NLU expanded rapidly, and by 1868 it had over 100,000 members, with strikes occurring in various cities. The success of the NLU led to the adoption of the term "unionize" by workers and labor organizers to describe the process of forming a union. Since then, the concept and practice of unionization have spread worldwide, particularly in developed nations, as a way for workers to effectively advocate for their rights and interests.