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What Is Collective Bargaining? Your Guide to the Process
(United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 1625)

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FACT SHEET

Once a union has acquired the right to represent a unit of employees, it begins collective bargaining. The central feature of collective bargaining is the obligation to bargain "in good faith" in an attempt to reach an agreement on issues within the scope of bargaining.

The failure of either party to bargain in good faith is an unfair labor practice. Some elements of good faith bargaining are specified in the law, such as the obligation to meet at reasonable times and places, to willingly discuss issues within the scope of bargaining, and to commit agreements reached to writing.

The law governing "good faith" bargaining, the Taft-Hartley Act, does not require either party to make a concession -- only that they make a good- faith effort to compromise and make a reasonable effort to settle differences.

The NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] also defines mandatory subjects for bargaining as those falling into the categories of "wages, hours and terms and conditions."

ITEMS FOUND TO BE MANDATORY FOR
BARGAINING IN PREVIOUS
NLRB CASES

Wages
Hours
Discharge
Arbitration
Holidays-paid
Vacations-paid
Duration of agreement
Grievance Procedure
Layoff Plan
Work Rules
Merit Wage Increase
Work Schedule
Lunch Periods
Rest Periods
Pension Plan
Retirement Age
Bonus Payments
Price of meals provided by company
Group Insurance-
Health, Accident, Life
Promotions
Seniority
Layoffs
Transfers
Work assignments
Work Loads
Overtime Pay
Sick Leave
Management Rights
Discounts on company products
Shift Differentials
Severance pay
Facility Rules
Safety
Dues Checkoff
Facility closedown and relocation
Facility closing
Job posting procedures
Employee physical examinations
Profit-sharing plan
Subcontracting
Discriminatory racial policies

REMEMBER! COLLECTIVE BARGAINING MEANS:

• YOU will choose your Negotiating Committee!
• YOU will help determine your contract proposals!
• YOU will be a part of negotiations!
• YOU will be able to vote on all contract offers!

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