Getting a better deal for workers is what unions do. That puts collective bargaining at the heart of what a union is.
Collective bargaining gives workers the opportunity to decide on the goals to be pursued at the bargaining table. These can include safer workplaces, better pensions, higher wages and increased social justice. CUPE fights for all these things at the bargaining table – and wins!
This lesson in a nutshell:
- Time: About 15 minutes to complete
- Read the text below: “Why do we bargain?”
- Watch: Two videos on the importance of collective agreements and collective bargaining
- Quiz: Test your understanding of bargaining! (optional)
- Access: Linked resources to help you in your bargaining
If you enjoy this course, tell a co-worker about it. And if you have suggestions on how we can make it better, tell us! Email us at education@cupe.ca. Now, back to the course…
Video #1 to watch:
Collective Bargaining: What’s the big deal?
Danika Brisson from Union Education discusses the big deal with collective agreements:
Article to read
Why do we bargain?
Unions bargain collective agreements for a variety of reasons. We bargain to improve working conditions, increase wages and benefits, and to build respect and fairness in the workplace.
What is the process?
Local members decide on the priorities for a round of bargaining. The union bargaining committee then devises the best strategy for getting as close as they can to reaching those priorities. The two sides meet to negotiate. The end result is a collective agreement that sets out in writing the working conditions negotiated between the union and the employer.
Who can bargain?
Unfortunately, not all workers have the right to bargain collectively with their employers. More than 60 percent of Canadian workers do not yet belong to unions and therefore they do not have any bargaining rights. That’s why CUPE, along with other unions, promotes unionization and growing the labour movement.
That said, many unions, especially public sector unions, are prevented from bargaining about certain issues or do not have the right to strike to back up their bargaining goals.
Why does CUPE vigorously defend the right to bargain?
CUPE knows that the collective bargaining process offers the best way for workers to balance power relations in a workplace. And workers fought hard for the right to bargain, a right that cannot be taken for granted.
It took decades of persistent struggle for Canadian workers to force employers and governments to recognize the right of workers to bargain collectively about working conditions.
Today, these rights are being attacked by right-wing politicians and employers. As trade unionists we must be prepared to fight to defend and extend free collective bargaining rights for all Canadian workers.