collectiveagreement

A collective agreement, also known as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), is a written contract negotiated through collective bargaining between one or more employers and one or more labor unions representing employees in a bargaining unit. It sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a defined group of workers for a specified period and is legally binding on both the employer and the workers covered by it.

Typical provisions include wages, working hours, overtime, vacation and leave, benefits, job classifications, promotions and layoffs, recall rights, seniority, discipline and grievance procedures, health and safety, and subcontracting. It may also address management rights, union recognition, dues through checkoff, and information sharing. Many CBAs establish a grievance procedure and an arbitration mechanism to resolve disputes.

CBAs are usually the product of negotiations between the employer and the union bargaining committees, sometimes with mediation or interest arbitration. They may be master agreements covering an entire enterprise or sector, as well as local agreements for specific facilities. Side letters or memoranda of understanding can amend or clarify terms without changing the main document. The agreement has a defined term and expires on a date, after which parties may renegotiate or extend the existing terms under a renewal clause.

Enforcement derives from contract law and labor law. Signatory parties are bound to the terms, and employees within the bargaining unit are covered. Violations can be addressed through the grievance procedure or, if necessary, arbitration or court action. Legal frameworks governing CBAs vary by country and jurisdiction.