COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Negotiation method on the employment terms between an employer and a group of employees. It includes items such as employment and working conditions, workplace rules, base and overtime pay, shift length, working hours, holidays, vacation time, sick leave, and retirement and healthcare benefits.

In the United States, this negotiation occurs between labor union leaders and company management employing the union’s workers. Hence, a collective bargaining agreement creates employment for certain number of years. Each union member pays dues. It may also entail antagonistic labor strikes or worker lockouts if both sides have difficulty reaching an agreement.