Collocations for union - noun

close
Some of the member states wanted a closer union rather than the loose confederation that developed.

loose
full
a move in the direction of full political union

economic, monetary, political
currency, customs

create, form
dissolve

union between
currency union between the two countries

union with
the union with East Germany

labor (AmE), trade (esp. BrE), trades (BrE)
public-sector, public-service, public-services (all BrE)
government-employee, public-employee (both AmE)
free, independent
official
big, large, major
France's biggest union

militant, strong
local, national
industrial (esp. AmE)
electricians', faculty (AmE), teachers', etc.
She became active in the teachers' union.

engineering, health, rail, teaching, transport, etc. (all BrE)
student, students'

form, organize (esp. AmE), set up
join
belong to
recognize

be affiliated to sth
represent sb/sth
The union represents 40% of all hospital workers.

negotiate (sth)
The nurses' union negotiated a new contract.

accept sth, agree (to sth)
refuse sth, reject sth, threaten sth
The union threatened strike action if its demands were not met.

claim sth, express sth
Several unions expressed support for the strike.

support sb/sth

confederation, federation, movement, organization
branch (esp. BrE), local (AmE)
action, activism, activity, militancy (esp. BrE), power
rights
activist, member, official, rep, representative
spokesman, spokesperson, spokeswoman
boss, chief, leader, organizer, president, secretary (esp. BrE), shop steward (BrE), steward (BrE)
leadership, membership, representation
conference (esp. BrE), election
shop (AmE)
card, dues (esp. AmE)
He paid his union dues to Local Union 98.

law
contract (AmE)

civil, legal
holy, spiritual
sexual
gay, same-sex

allow, recognize
states where same-sex unions are recognized