What is Negotiation or Collective Bargaining?
Collective Bargaining is bargaining between and/or among representatives of agencies and labor unions to set working conditions for all employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. Employees have the right to engage in negotiations (i.e., collective bargaining) over conditions of employment through their chosen union representatives. Negotiating or collective bargaining is the mutual obligation of management and the union to meet at reasonable times and bargain in a good faith effort to reach agreement with respect to conditions of employment affecting employees represented by the union. Conditions of employment is a broad term which encompasses personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions. Certain matters are specifically excluded by law from being considered a condition of employment (e.g., the classification of a position).
