Collective Bargaining Agreements
The collective bargaining agreement (CBA), or contract, is a legally binding document that contains articles of hard-won agreements between the union and the employer (employers don’t just give this as a gift!). Contracts have an effective life and typically run from July 1 to June 30 for one or more years. Successor agreements are bargained when nearing the expiration of a contract.
Memorandums of Understanding/Agreement
Memorandums of Understanding/Agreement (MOUs and MOAs) are bargained in the same way as a successor agreement of a CBA and become part of the current CBA. The need for MOU/MOA bargaining may come up at any time regarding specific issues or changes in working conditions and may be initiated by the employer or the union. These are additions to the language of the contract and may last for the life of the contract or for a shorter period of time.
Bargaining
Beginning in the fall of a work year when a CBA will expire, the bargaining process for a successor contract begins. The preparations for going to the table to bargain with the employer include:
- A bargaining survey is created and sent out to bargaining unit members for their input
- The field representative sends the employer an Intent to Bargain a Successor Contract letter and requests information for the bargaining team’s reference
- A bargaining team is selected or elected (depending on chapter constitution language)
- Bargaining training is provided by the field representative for all bargaining team members. The training includes:
- Preparations before going to the bargaining table
- How to write a proposal
- Conduct during bargaining
- Sharing bargaining information during the process
- Getting to a tentative agreement (TA)
- Conducting an information meeting and ratification vote
- Pre-bargaining meetings are scheduled to identify and write proposals, and Ground Rules are prepared
- Bargaining commences with notice to bargaining unit members
Who needs to sign once a CBA or MOU/MOA is ratified?
Upon ratification of a new CBA or MOU/MOA, the final agreement is to be signed by the employer, the chapter president and the field representative. Any MOUs/MOAs that don’t need to go before members for ratification will still need to be signed by the employer, the chapter president and the field representative. See Appendix N, page 131 for guidance on which MOUs/MOAs need to be ratified.