Collective Bargaining

Personnel Manager (Collective Bargaining)

n Collective Bargaining
n Impact and Implementation Bargaining
n Past Practice
n Negotiability Appeals
n Duty to Bargain

The goal of labor-management relations is for the union and management to strive for a sound and constructive relationship - a relationship which fosters effective resolution of issues.

The negotiating process is designed to promote the balancing of the rights and interests of employees, the union, and management, and to foster a two-way flow of communication. Most employees, supervisors and managers are not directly involved in negotiating the collective bargaining agreement. The negotiating team is usually comprised of a small group of management and union officials.

The formal phase of contract negotiations begins when:

The union requests to meet with management to discuss a written agreement or submits proposals.
Management requests to meet with the exclusive representative to discuss a written agreement or submits proposals.
Within the time specified in the existing agreement, either party notifies the other of its intent to renew, extend, or renegotiate the existing agreement.
The parties jointly agree to discuss their actual interests and how to satisfy those interests through a written agreement.

REF:
n Title 5 USC Ch 71;
n 5 CFR Chapter XIV

The supervisor is the management team member closest to the problems of the work site. The same is often true for the union steward. They are in a good position to determine problems in implementing provisions of the existing agreement, to know which ones are working well, and to anticipate provisions that should be included in the next contract. They should be encouraged to bring bring this information to the attention of management and union negotiating officials so that they can address problem areas in future dealings.

General Management EEO Classification Labor Relations Employee Relations Staffing Employee Development Electronic Forms Sample Letters Regulations Email
Revised: 11/18/98
DOI University
National Business Center
U.S. Department of the Interior