A "company union" is generally recognized as being an organization that is not freely elected by the workforce, and over which an employer exerts some form of control. The International Labour Organization defines a company union as "A union limited to a single company which dominates or strongly influences it, thereby limiting its influence."
A "company union" typically refers to an organization not democratically selected by workers, where an employer has some degree of control. According to the International Labour Organization, a company union is defined as "a union limited to one firm that either dominates or significantly influences it, thereby reducing its influence."