Labor Contract Negotiations Imagine you were selected to participate in your firm’s labor contract negotiations. What strategies would you use to help yourself be better prepared for sitting at the ba

Labor Contract Negotiations

Imagine you were selected to participate in your firm’s labor contract negotiations. What strategies would you use to help yourself be better prepared for sitting at the bargaining table? You may take either an organization or union perspective.

Submission Instructions:

• Your initial post should be at least 200 words,formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 sources. Your initial post is worth 8 points.
• You should respond to at least two of your peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts.Your reply posts are worth 2 points (1 point per response.)
• All replies must be constructive and use literature where possible.

pOST BY CLASSMATE 1

The organization I work for is currently participating in union contract negotiations. Our team of Labor Relations representatives and Sr. Human Resources Management has been instrumental in sitting at the bargaining table, communicating changes to each facility's local human resources leaders, and senior leadership. There are several steps I took to prepare for labor contract negotiations.

Since the existing contract was implemented, I have been tracking potential changes, verbiage that is unclear, and updates that need to be proposed in the existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA). As changes are presented, our Labor Management Team provides updates and questions based on the topics discussed during negotiations. In the past, I have attended the meetings on specific days delegates from our facility propose changes they would like to see implemented. Many of the subjects range from employee engagement activities such as Ice Cream Socials to staff schedules. Another way I prepare for contract negotiations includes department leadership reviews.

On a quarterly basis, our department leaders provide a business review for each department. A portion of reportables includes employee concerns and issues presented by staff. As issues are identified, and if the issue is defined in the CBA, the leader is educated on how to address the concern based on guidance provided in the CBA. If the issue remains a concern or cannot be resolved, it is added to the list of the subject matter discussed during contract negotiations. Continuous communication is key when working in a unionized facility with a collective bargaining agreement in place.