As a UAW member, you and your co-workers can require management to negotiate a binding contract over your wages, benefits, work hours and other work conditions . ... If the tentative agreement is approved, it becomes a binding and enforceable contract between the union and the employer.
What is the basic process of negotiating a labor contract?
Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating, administering, and interpreting labor agreements. Both union and management negotiators prepare a bargaining proposal. The two sides meet and exchange demands and ideas. Bargaining consists of compromises and concessions that lead to a tentative agreement.
What should I ask for in a union contract negotiation?
Central issues typically include wages, hours, layoff procedures, production quotas, and key benefits such as health insurance . If the union requests it, the employer must provide advance notice of any changes it proposes to make to terms such as wages, hours, and layoff procedures.
How long does it take to negotiate a union contract?
The average negotiation for a first contract takes a year or more . There are cases of first contract negotiations continuing for three or four years.
How do you prepare for a union contract negotiation?
- Step 1: Form and Train the Negotiating Team on its Legal Obligations. ...
- Step 2: Review Experience During the Life of the Last CBA. ...
- Step 3: Review Previous Negotiations. ...
- Step 4: Take the Unit’s Composition into Account. ...
- Step 5: Prepare a Wage and Benefit Analysis.
What makes a good union contract?
All employees want good pay and benefits, job satisfaction , paid time off, a safe work environment, and a voice that will be respected by the employer. ... If the tentative agreement is approved, it becomes a binding and enforceable contract between the union and the employer.
Can an employer refuse to negotiate with a union?
No. Labor law doesn’t require the union or the employer to agree to any bargaining proposal. The law only requires the parties to negotiate in good faith with a sincere desire to reach agreement.
What happens when an impasse is declared?
When impasse is reached, the duty to negotiate is suspended and an employer is permitted to unilaterally implement the terms of its final proposal . In other words, an employer may implement any changes to working conditions that it had proposed to the union during negotiations without the union’s approval.
What is a negotiation process?
Negotiation is a process by which two or more people (or groups) resolve an issue or arrive at a better outcome through compromise . Negotiation is a way to avoid arguing and come to an agreement with which both parties feel satisfied.
Is negotiating in bad faith illegal?
In each of these instances, a party entered into a negotiation, bargaining in bad faith, with no intention of closing a deal or following through on negotiated commitments. Such behavior is inconsiderate at best, immoral and even potentially illegal at worst .
What do right to work laws prohibit?
More than half of U.S. states have enacted so-called “right to work” laws that guarantee no person can be compelled to join a union or pay union dues, as a condition of employment. ... The law also prohibits unions from contributing to political campaigns .
Can employers refuse unions?
Workers have the right, under the National Labor Relations Act
What laws protect unions?
The most important federal laws governing unions include the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) , the Labor Management Relations Act (also known as the Taft-Hartley Act), and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, discussed in more detail below.
What is the most important part of a union contract?
Wages – At its most basic, wages refer to the amount of compensation that union members will receive. It also includes such elements as bonuses, any stipends that will be provided for the pursuit of certifications, etc.) Benefits – Employee benefits are one of the most crucial elements of union contracts.
What happens if I don’t strike with my union?
The Union constitution provides for fines and/or assessments to be levied against any union member that either crosses the picket line or refuses to take part in strike activities. Crossing the picket line or failure to participate in the strike will result in loss of union seniority.
Can you negotiate salary in a union?
Many collective bargaining agreements set guaranteed minimum salaries for various positions, as well as minimum annual pay increases. Individual employees are then free to negotiate for a higher salary based on individual performance, past experience or other factors.
