What is a collective bargaining agreement?
A collective bargaining agreement (sometimes called a CBA) is an agreement negotiated between a labor union and an employer that sets forth the terms of employment for the employees who are members of that labor union. A CBA may include provisions regarding wages, vacation time, working hours, working conditions, and health insurance benefits.
Once a collective bargaining agreement is in place:
Management cannot reduce wages or change working conditions without first negotiating with the employees, through their union representatives. Employees are entitled to vote on changes made to their contract.
Your contract is for a set period of time and cannot be changed at will by a notice or announcement.
There will be no favoritism or change of policy to suit the whim of management.
Your union enforces your contract to make sure the employer abides by the rules.
Your union enforces your contract through a grievance procedure, in arbitration
For example, unions deal with practices regarding discipline and making sure proper procedures are in place so that employees are treated fairly. Most union members cannot be terminated or disciplined unless the employer has "just cause," as defined by the collective bargaining agreement, unlike most non-union employees in the private sector, who are employed "at-will," which means that employer can fire you or change your conditions of employment at any time and for almost any reason. For more information, please see our site's at-will employment page.