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Collective Bargaining
Facilitator:
William Holder
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What is Collective Bargaining
Collective Bargaining is the exercise
in which workers, through their
unions , try to reach an agreement
with their employers on wages
payable and other benefits which
they will enjoy in exchange for their
labour.
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Objectives in Collective
Bargaining
To raise the material living standard of
workers.
To create a community of workers which
is conscious of the dignity of labour and
the importance of its role in the nation.
To create the skilled, stable and secure
work force required to operate a steadily
expanding production of national wealth.
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To give self - confidence and respect to
workers as individuals.
To eliminate ignorance and illiteracy which
hold the workers in developing countries
prisoners in their own countries and let
them enjoy that human dignity which free
trade unions believe to be the right of all
men.
To build, for the fulfillment of these
objectives , strong T.U which are conscious
of their responsibilities to the worker and
to the nation as a whole.
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Conditions for Effective Collective
Bargaining
Strong trade unions organization.
Union controlled and financed by
the members.
No anti trade union laws that may
work against the bargaining
parties.
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Preparing for Collective Bargaining
Understand workers needs, problems
and propose solutions.
Discuss proposals with a representative
committee elected for the purpose,
making amendments where necessary.
Make sure that your proposals are
straight forward and cannot have more
than one meaning.
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Make sure the terms of the
agreement are binding on the
employer.

Collective bargaining begins with a
discussion of the unions written
proposals and ends with the signing of
a written agreement.
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Preparing Bargaining Proposals

Recognition of the union.
Union security.
No discrimination
Management rights
Grievance procedure
Seniority
Working conditions.
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Wages, job classification or grades
and bonuses. Full details of wages,
job grades, apprenticeship schemes
and other incentive payments.
Joint consultation.
Duration of agreement.
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Other Important Principals of
Collective Bargaining .
Prepare Arguments.
Collecting facts- International business, the
particular industry, the particular employer,
labour statistics.
Gathering information from sources i.e. The
Press, Govt Reports, ILO Office, Budget
Speeches, Business Reports, etc.
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Analyzing Financial Reports.
Calculating cost of union demands

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Bargaining Strategy

Build up the strength and fighting spirit
of the union.

Timing is important.

Use sensible bargaining methods.

Bargaining team selection
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At the Bargaining Table
Be mentally tough.
Know when to compromise.
Initial all agreements reached.
Counter aggression /intimidation with skill
and tack .
Bargain for all workers in the unions
jurisdiction.
Justify wage increase.
Be flexible but firm.
Keep members informed.


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Advantages of Collective
Bargaining
Collective Bargaining has the advantage
of settlement through dialogue and
consensus rather than conflict and
confrontation.
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Collective Bargaining agreements often
institutionalize settlements through
dialogue. E.g A collective agreement may
provide for methods by which disputes
between the parties will be settled. The
parties know that there is a agreed method
for settling disagreement.
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Collective Bargaining is a form of
participation. Both parties participate in
deciding what proportion of the cake is to
shared by the parties entitled to a share.
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Collective Bargaining is a form of
participation because it involves a sharing
of rule making power between employer
and unions in areas which in earlier times
were regarded as management
prerogative, e.g. transfers,promotion,
redundancy, discipline, modernization,
production norms.
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Collective Bargaining agreements
sometimes renounce or limit the settlement
of disputes through trade union
action.Such agreements have the effect of
guaranteeing industrial peace for the
duration of the agreement , either
generally or more usually on matters
covered in the agreement.
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Collective bargaining is an essential feature
in the concept of social partnership towards
which labour relations should strive.
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Collective Bargaining has valuable by-
products relevant to the relationship
between the two parties. E.g. a long term
course of successful and bona fide dealings
leads to the generation of trust. It
contributes towards mutual understanding
by establishing a continuing relationship.
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Where there is a multiplicity of unions and
shifting union loyalties, collective
bargaining and consequent agreements
tend to stabilize union membership.
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Most importantly Collective Bargaining
usually has the effect of improving
industrial relations.
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Collective Bargaining
Collective Bargaining can be further defined as a continuing
institutional relationship between an employer
entity(government or private) and a labour organisation
(union or association) representing exclusively a defined
group of employees (appropriate bargaining unit) concerned
with the negotiation, administration, interpretation, and
enforcement of written agreements covering joint
understanding as to wages and salaries, rates of pay, hours of
work and other conditions of employment. Of major
importance is the fact that collective bargaining relationships
are a continuous one, involving contract administration as
well as contract negotiatioon.