Reaching a collective bargaining agreement can be a main goal in sight for workers and management who just haven’t been able to get along. This isn’t just about a fight between friends, per se. The entire company or business’s production, reputation, and success are riding on the ability of management and workers to get along, meaning they’re both doing what they’re supposed to do and doing it right.
So, when the options seem as if they’ve all run out, workers and management can turn to unions. Forming or joining a union can help both parties here– workers and management, reach a collective bargaining agreement.
Reaching a collective bargaining agreement can be a good thing, because it sets out the punishments and protections for workers who do the wrong thing. If they are accused, then they often get the protection of a representative and face only certain just punishments. In addition, workers are also protected because they are allowed to bargain for the wages, work hours, and benefits– like vacation and insurance, that they want and need.
Many workers who turn to unions and collective bargaining agreements need these added protections, because the industry they work in allows management to set many of the rules, which just often aren’t fair.
Hotel workers, pilots and stewardesses, and even taxicab drivers have turned to unions to reach collective bargaining agreements with the higher-ups in charge. So, let’s take a closer look at what it takes to reach a collective bargaining agreement and the processes involved.
What It Takes
It takes a lot on the part of both parties. Reaching a collective bargaining agreement requires a willingness to let go of some things and be understanding and willing to change others. Sincerity, dedication, and commitment to reach the agreement are just a few aspects of what it takes.
What’s Involved
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Voting for a union — Voting for a union isn’t as easy as it sounds. There are many laws that protect workers who engage in union activities, but this doesn’t keep them from losing their jobs if they decide to strike or protest too vocally.
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Starting negotiations — Once a union is in place, then negotiations between workers and management can begin. Negotiations work best when the parties put their interests on the table and are open to giving up something in exchange for something else.
