Collective agreements include all sorts of essential info about your rights in the workplace, working conditions, wages, benefits and more – above and beyond minimum employment standards. This is what unions do – we deliver more for workers.
Collective agreements are like guidebooks for a unionized workplace. They map out the terms by which workers are employed, how we settle disputes and how we can keep things fair and respectful. Working together, CUPE members and staff fight for the best deal for workers – and we put it in writing!
In this lesson, you will learn about the kinds of things you’ll find in a typical collective agreement.
This lesson includes short texts to read, short videos to watch, and some quizzes along the way! it also includes links to other resources like bargaining guides and more information about CUPE Union Education workshops.
This lesson in a nutshell:
- Time: about 20 minutes to complete
- Text: Read the articles below
- Optional quiz: Test your understanding!
If you enjoy this course, tell a co-worker. And if you have suggestions on how we can make it better, tell us! contact info.
Read your collective agreement
It’s a great idea to get familiar with your collective agreement. The best way to do that is to read it, one section at a time.
Think of your CA as a book about your rights as a union member. The book has a collection of short chapters, called “articles”. Each article is about a specific aspect of working in a unionized workplace. This means you can learn about what it means to be in a union one chapter at a time.
Take your time reading each chapter and reflect on what you’ve read. If you read something that isn’t clear, talk to your steward or local’s leadership.
To find your collective agreement, visit cupe.ca/locals
If you have any technical difficulties accessing your agreement this way, talk to your steward or any member of your local leadership.
Read more below to learn about the kinds of things you’ll find in a typical CA. After you read the text, you can take a short quiz (optional).
Articles in a typical collective agreement
Below are the articles you will find in a typical collective agreement.
Note: your own agreement may have more or different articles, but the ones below can be found in a typical agreement.
Preamble
The Preamble explains the reasons and purpose of the collective agreement and the objectives it seeks to achieve. The Preamble may be used by an arbitrator in the future as a guide to the interpretation of the collective agreement.
Definitions
This article spells out the specific meaning of key terms that will apply to the rest of the collective agreement. For example, the definition of full or part-time employees.
Recognition and Representation
This article typically affirms the role of the union as the sole bargaining agent, along with other union rights, including recognizing the work of the bargaining unit, no contracting out, and the right of fair representation.
No Harassment or Discrimination
This section outlines employee rights to a respectful workplace free of discrimination and harassment. Language on personal and sexual harassment must, at a minimum, reflect statutory requirements in the jurisdiction.
Management Rights
This article provides an outline of management’s reserved rights, typically in relation to directing work and sometimes more specifically detailed. Other provisions may include managing the business/operation, the ability to promote employees, and maintaining order to the extent that management’s actions are consistent with the agreement and that grievance and arbitration procedures are upheld.
No Strike or Lockouts
This article states that during the life of the agreement there will be no strike by the Union or lockout by the Employer.
Union Security
This article confirms that employees are required to become members of the Union as a condition of employment, and sets out how dues are collected and distributed.
Labour Management Relations
This article affirms that the Union will decide its representatives for meetings with the Employer, including labour-management committees and bargaining committees. The Employer will similarly inform the Union of its Employer representatives for labour relations matters.
Wages and Premiums
This article outlines the frequency of pay days and pay stub reporting requirements, and can include the wage schedule (a listing of job titles with corresponding rates of pay).
Hours of Work
This article defines the standard work week, standard work day, rules around scheduling, days off, rest periods and meal breaks.
Overtime
This section describes overtime, how overtime will be distributed, how much employees are paid when they work daily or weekly overtime, and whether such time may be banked and subsequently taken as time off, among other details.
Employee Benefits
This section demonstrates the structure and elements of key benefits articles.
Pension Plan
Here is where the nature of your workplace pension plan would be described.
Sick Leave
This section outlines entitlements to sick leave funded by the Employer.
Vacation
This section outlines your entitlements to paid time off.
Leaves
This article describes the various leaves that have been bargained.
Paid Holidays
Paid days off for specific holidays must be allowed as per the Employment Standards Act. This article sets out any additional days that may be allowed, including float days, rate of pay when required to work on holidays, and work requirements in order to receive holiday pay.
Fees and Allowances
Various fees and allowances are included in this section, such as mileage or tools allowances. Allowances will depend on the nature of bargaining unit work.
Posting of Positions
This section describes how and when positions are posted, the role of seniority in promotions and transfers, the time frame for a trial period, and how new or changed positions are classified and compensated.
Seniority
This section defines seniority and how it is acquired or lost. It sets out the obligations by the Employer to maintain seniority lists.
Probationary Employees
This section defines the probation period for new employees and describes the rights and privileges of probationary employees under the collective agreement.
Layoffs and Recalls
This section defines the procedure for layoffs and rehiring, and how seniority works in relation to layoffs and recalls for work after an employee is laid off.
Grievance Procedures
This article describes the Grievance Procedure and how it is used in relation to the interpretation of the collective agreement, and in relation to making a final determination as to the fairness of workplace discipline or a workplace termination.
Arbitration Procedures
This article describes the process for engaging an Arbitrator to decide on matters after moving through the steps in the Grievance Procedure.
Discipline, Discharge and Personnel Records
This article sets out specific rights of CUPE members around discipline, personnel records, the procedures for disciplinary action, and the right to Union representation.
Health & Safety
This article sets out the parties’ responsibilities as they relate to health and safety in the workplace, including compliance with relevant occupational health and safety regulations, and workplace health and safety committees. Collective agreement provisions may incorporate and, in some cases, exceed standards mandated by existing health and safety legislation.
Technological Change
This section defines the Employer’s obligations and subsequent procedures regarding the introduction of new technologies that affect the terms and conditions, or security of employment of employees covered by the collective agreement.
Term of Agreement
This section simply states the start date and end date of the agreement and sets out the process for changes.
And the workers all lived happily ever after (and got organized for the next round of bargaining)!
Quiz time!