Translation guide
A labour union is an organization of workers formed to protect and advance their interests. In Japanese, the most common term is 労働組合 (ろうどうくみあい), often abbreviated to 労組 (ろうそ). This guide covers how to refer to unions in various contexts.
The standard, neutral way to refer to a labour union in most contexts.
The standard term for a labour union. Used in formal and informal contexts.
彼は労働組合の委員長です。
He is the chairman of the labour union.
労働組合が賃上げを要求した。
The labour union demanded a wage increase.
Abbreviation of 労働組合. Common in news and casual conversation.
労組の幹部が会見を開いた。
Union officials held a press conference.
Loanword from English. Often used in names of specific unions or in a more casual, modern context.
あの会社にはユニオンがない。
That company doesn't have a union.
In Japan, most unions are organized at the company level rather than by industry or trade. This term specifies that type.
Refers to a union organized within a single company, the dominant form in Japan.
日本の労働組合の多くは企業内組合です。
Most Japanese labour unions are enterprise-based unions.
A union that organizes workers across an entire industry or craft, rather than a single company.
An industrial union, organizing workers by industry.
産業別組合は業界全体の労働条件を改善しようとしている。
The industrial union is trying to improve working conditions across the industry.
A national-level organization that coordinates or represents multiple unions.
Often shortened to 連合 (れんごう), the largest national trade union center in Japan.
連合は毎年春闘で賃上げ交渉を行う。
Rengo conducts wage negotiations every spring offensive.
Another national federation, often abbreviated as 全労連 (ぜんろうれん).
全労連はより急進的な立場を取ることがある。
Zenroren sometimes takes a more radical stance.
Common phrases and concepts associated with labour unions.
The annual spring wage offensive, a major union activity in Japan.
今年の春闘では大幅な賃上げが実現した。
This year's spring offensive resulted in a significant wage increase.
Strike; often shortened to スト in casual speech.
In Japan, most unions are 企業内組合 (enterprise-based unions) rather than industrial or craft unions. When discussing Japanese labour unions, it's often helpful to clarify this distinction.
労働組合 is the standard Japanese term and is appropriate in all contexts. ユニオン is a loanword that can sound more modern or casual, and is often used in the names of specific unions (e.g., サービス・ユニオン).
A craft or trade union, organizing workers by occupation.
職業別組合は特定の技能を持つ労働者で構成される。
A craft union is made up of workers with specific skills.
Collective bargaining between the union and management.
団体交渉は来週に予定されている。
Collective bargaining is scheduled for next week.
組合はストライキを決行した。
The union went on strike.