The Japanese noun '組合 (くみあい)' refers to a 'union', typically a labor union or trade union. It is used to describe an organized association of workers formed to protect and further their rights and interests. This term can also refer to other types of associations or cooperatives, such as a cooperative society or a guild. For example: He joined the labor union「彼は労働組合に入った」(かれはろうどうくみあいにはいった). The farmers' cooperative is strong「農民組合は強い」(のうみんくみあいはつよい). The word can also be used in a broader sense to refer to any kind of organized group or association, but it is most commonly associated with labor unions.
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