Contract Negotiation Basics
What’s New
links to other UFCW 227 blog posts on similar topics
an explanation of each slide for clarification
Starting a contract from scratch may seem daunting, but local 227 has experienced negotiators who have been there before. We have sample contract language to help get started, copies of contracts from similar workplaces, member proposals and the rest is worked through with information from your coworkers who are on the Bargaining Committee.
For those building on a current contract our focus turns more into looking at what hasn’t been working, what needs clarification, and putting energy into fighting for wage and benefit increases.
There are mandatory subjects of bargaining and permissive subjects of bargaining. Technically your bargaining committee can ask to discuss any topic, but if it falls under the umbrella of permissive subjects then the company isn’t required to discuss the topic. Mandatory subjects on the other hand aren’t allowed to be refused outright.
Permissive subjects are business decisions like what goods are made or sold, or how much they sell for. Mandatory subjects are terms and conditions for employment, safety, benefits, wages and more.
Your Area Representative or lead negotiator will organize proposal meetings, surveys, or informal conversations to collect member proposals or suggestions for the contract. This is your chance to make your voice heard. Speak up about concerns or ideas you have that will make your union contract better for you and your coworkers.
Read more about proposal meetings here: ufcw227.org/ourvoice/proposal-meetings
Bargaining sessions are where the rubber hits the road. You will have union staff and coworkers on a team ready to take proposals to the bargaining table where they’ll negotiate with the company higher-ups and their lawyers. Each side brings proposals and go off to their separate spaces to discuss whether they can tentatively agree, request further discussion, offer a counter proposal or reject a proposal. Special care is given to when and how we agree or disagree on things to get the best possible outcome on the topics that are the most important.
After your bargaining committee has exchanged proposals, discussed them, brought back changes and suggestions, clarified meanings, and maybe experienced a few disagreements along the way— they have a tentative agreement ready to share with their fellow members.
The tentative agreement will need to be ratified, or voted into place by a majority rules, union-member-only vote, before it is set in stone as your union contract or collective bargaining agreement. If it is a first contract then everyone covered by the agreement will have a vote.
