COLLECTIVE BARGAINING – THE BASICS

Most U.S. workers have the legal right to form a union with co-workers and negotiate a binding contract with their employer over pay, benefits, and other work conditions. However, only about 12 percent of us have exercised those rights.

What distinguishes UAW members and our brothers and sisters in other unions from the mostly non-unionized workforce is that we are organized and can bargain contracts that positively impact not only us and our families, but also those non-unionized employees and our country’s economy in the resulting positive ripple effect.

But how much do you know about the collective bargaining process that results in an agreement that sets your take home pay, the health care you and your loved ones rely on, the paid time off you receive, your path to promotion – and so much more?

Below are some resources that we hope provide a basic understanding about your collective bargaining rights. Please contact your local union to find out how you can learn even more.