Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Office of the Vice President for branches and campuses
Pulilan Campus

Collective Bargaining

Overview:

Collective bargaining is another way of handling organizational conflict. Issues of disagreement are
brought to the bargaining table and, at least for the duration of the contract, settled. In the day-to-day
relationships between supervisors and employees, a process exists whereby employees can, through
their union leaders, raise an objection and get a response. The response is not guaranteed to be to the
employee's liking.

Background:

The concept of collective bargaining was introduced very late in India as trade unions were founded only
in the 20th century. The concept of collective bargaining attained significance only after 1962. The
phrase collective bargaining is said to be coined by Sydney, Beatrice Webb, and Great Britain. It
comprises two words collective which means "group" and bargaining which means "proposals and
counter-proposals". so it is a process in which the representatives of a labor organization & the
representatives of the organization meet and attempt to negotiate a contract or agreement, which
specifies the nature of the employee-employer union relationship.

Objectives of Collective Bargaining:

 Resolve differences over knotty issues.

 Protect the interests of workers through collective action.
 Carry out negotiations voluntarily, without interference from a third party.
 Arrive at an amicable agreement through a process of give and take.
 To arrive at an agreement on wages and other conditions of employment.
 To have peaceful co-existence for the mutual benefits and progress.
 To maintain employee- employer relation bilaterally.

Characteristics:

COLLECTIVE: Collective bargaining is a two-way group process where the employer's representative and
employee's representatives sit together to negotiate terms of employment.

STRENGTH: Both the parties in collective bargaining are strong and equal.

VOLUNTARY: Both parties come to the negotiation table voluntarily in order to go in a particular
negotiation. It is based on discussion, mutual trust and understanding.

FLEXIBLE: It is a flexible and continuous process and not fixed or static.

 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Office of the Vice President for branches and campuses
Pulilan Campus

REPRESENTATION: Collective bargaining is between representatives of employees and management. The

management does not directly deal with employees. It carries negotiations with the
representatives/executives of unions and associations.

DYNAMIC: Collective bargaining is dynamic, that go on changing over a period and grows and expand the
way of agreement, the way of implementation and way of discussion.

CONTINUOUS: Collective bargaining is continuous and begins with agreement, the implementation of
agreement and further negotiations.

BIPARTITE PROCESS: Because the employee and employer representatives negotiate directly face to face
across the table.

IMPROVEMENT: It is a method to improve the employer-employees relation in organization and resolve

management and employee conflicts.

Issues of Collective Bargaining:

 Wages and work conditions

 Work norms
 Incentives 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

Points to keep in mind before Collective Bargaining:

 Be sure to set a clear objectives for every bargaining item, and be sure you understand the
reason for each.
 Do not hurry.
 When in doubt, discuss with your associates.
 Be well prepared with firm data supporting your position.
 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Office of the Vice President for branches and campuses
Pulilan Campus

 Always strive to keep some flexibility in your position.

 Dont concern yourself just with what the other party says and does; find out why.
 Respect the importance for face saving for the other party.
 Be alert to the real intentions of the other party-not only for goals, but also for priorities.
 Be a good listener.
 Build a reputation for being fair but firm.
 Learn to control your emotions and use them as a tool.
 As you make each bargaining move, move be sure you know its relationships to all other moves.
 Measure each move against your objectives your objectives.
 Pay close attention to the wording of every clause negotiated; they are often a source of
grievances.
 Remember that collective bargaining is a compromise process; there is no such thing as having
all the pie
 Try to understand people and their personalities.
 Consider the impact of present negotiations on those in future years.

Process of Collective Bargaining:

The collective bargaining process involves five steps:

PREPARE: This phase involves the composition of the negotiation team.

DISCUSS: both parties decide the rules that will guide the negotiations.

PROPOSE: it involves the initial opening statements and the possible options that exist to resolve them.

BARGAIN: Negotiations are easy if a problem-solving attitude is adopted. This stage comprises the time
when 'what ifs’ and 'supposals’ are set forth and the drafting of agreements take place.

SETTLEMENT: This stage is describes as consisting of effective joint implementation of the agreement
through shared visions, strategic planning and negotiated change.

References:

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/collective-bargaining.asp

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/mono/10.4324/9781315545387-16/collective-bargaining-
dennis-dresang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_bargaining

https://www.slideshare.net/MandeepGill1/collective-bargaining-34060899?
fbclid=IwAR3b8KXjDUUhuMl1UyajB67S0gZROyrPFTVwOwuFxiSOQ2ICeV1Js_i76wM
 Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Office of the Vice President for branches and campuses
Pulilan Campus

Collective Bargaining
Written Report

Submitted by: Pia Angela Rafal & Franchesca Alex Reyes

Submitted to: Mrs. Pel de sotto Bautista