Collective Bargaining

Collective Bargaining

Introduction •

•

Collective bargaining means bargaining between an employer or group of employers and Labour Union. An Agreement between a single employer or an association of employer on the one hand and Labour Union on the other hand which regulates the terms and conditions of   employment by Ludwing Teller “

”

Concept: 1. Technique 2. Individual Bargaining 3. Relation 4. Joint Session Collective Bargaining-Principle: Give & Take

Objectives: 1. Harmonies labour relation 2. To Promote Industrial peace 3. Reaching an agreement

The main steps usually involved in collective bargaining include: (i) Presentation in a collective manner to the employer their demands by the employees, (ii) Discussions and negotiations on the basis of mutual give-and-take for fulfilling the demands, (iii) Signing of a formal agreement or arriving at an informal understanding, when negotiations result in mutual satisfaction and (iv) In the event of the failure of negotiations, a likely resort to strike or lock-out to force the opposite party to come to terms.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

To sum up collective bargaining enables both the parties to: Increase their economic strength for mutual benefit Establish uniform conditions of employment with a view to avoid industrial disputes and maintaining stable peace in the industry; Secure a prompt and fair redressal of grievances; Avoid interruptions in work which follow strikes, go-slow tactics and similar coercive activities; Lay down fair rates of wages and norms of working conditions; Achieve an efficient operation of the plant; and Promote the stability and prosperity of the Industry.

Collective bargaining process Developing a Bargaining Relationship:

The first step in CB is to develop a regular and systematic procedure for bargaining. This step consists of three activities, namely: •

Recognition of the Bargaining Agent

•

Level of Bargaining

•

Scope and coverage of CB

Recognition of the Bargaining Agent In organizations in which there is a single trade union, that union is generally granted recognition to represent the workers. But where there is more than one union, any of these criteria may be used for identifying the representative union, namely:  –  –

 –  –

 –

selection of the representative union by secret ballot selection through verification of membership by some government agency bargaining with a joint committee of all major unions bargaining with a negotiation committee in which different unions would be represented in proportion to their verified membership; and bargaining with a negotiation committee which consists of elected representatives of every department of the organization selected by secret ballot, irrespective of their union affiliations.

Level of Bargaining Collective bargaining is possible at practically all levels, namely,  –

at the level of the enterprise,

 –

at the level of the entire industry in the country or

 –

level of the industry in a particular region

Scope and Coverage of Collective Bargaining •

Wages and working conditions

•

Work norms

•

Incentive payments

•

Job security

•

Changes in technology

•

Work tools, techniques and practices

•

Staff transfers and promotions

•

Grievances

•

Disciplinary matters

•

Health and safety

•

Insurance and benefits

•

Union recognition

•

Union activities/responsibilities

•

Management rights

Process of Negotiation during Bargaining There are two stages in CB •

Negotiation Stage

1. Preparation of Negotiation 2. Negotiation Technique or procedure 3. Follow Up action •

The stage of contract administration

Issues

1.Wages- Rs. 50/day 2.Drinking water 3.Work Hours-12 4.Weekly 6 days working 5.Safety Measures 6.Lunch break- 15 min 7.Overtime pay 8.Discrimination(Promotions)