v. [f. UNION sb.1 + -IZE.]
a. trans. To form into a union. rare–1.
1841. R. Oastler, Fleet Papers, I. No. 23. 182. The breaking up of the old local, domestic, family system of self-government, by unionizing and centralizing society.
b. esp. To bring under trade-union rules or principles; to cause (persons) to become members of a trade-union.
Freq. since c. 1900. Hence (in journalistic use) Unionization, Unionized ppl. a., Unionizing vbl. sb.
1890. Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 18 Nov. It has been decided by the Trades Council to take radical measures … to unionize all work in the building trades.
1903. Liberty Review, July, 16. The servants have been unionised under the rules of the … Federation.
