Gewerkschaft

trade union

noun ge-VERK-shaft Less Common

Also means

labor union

Usage Note

Gewerkschaft is a workers' organisation that bargains for wages and conditions; to belong is in der Gewerkschaft sein. The -schaft suffix marks a collective body, as in Mannschaft or Mannschaft. It is central to German labour-relations vocabulary.

Examples

"Die Gewerkschaft fordert höhere Löhne."

Natural Translation

The union is demanding higher wages.

Literal Translation

The union demands higher wages.

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