ABSTRACT
collective bargaining takes place when a number of workpeople enter into negotiation as a bargaining unit with an employer or group of employers with the object of reaching agreement on conditions of employment for the workpeople concerned. This definition would include bargaining by workpeople acting together temporarily for this purpose, but developed systems of collective bargaining are based upon greater continuity of organization among workpeople. The definition also includes bargaining by so-called “company” unions, or employee-representation arrangements, which were frequently established in the inter-war years especially in the United States of America. Often in the early stages of organization amongst workpeople employers have refused to discuss working conditions except with their own workpeople. This company basis of negotiation is, however, defective because the spokesmen of the workers are in a weak position. Being themselves employed by the firm, they are dependent upon the employer for their pay and are not so free to take a strong line in negotiation as would be officials of a trade union who are paid from union funds. Collective bargaining is therefore only likely to be conducted on equal terms if the spokesmen of the workers are trade union officers and are dependent upon the union and not upon the employer for their position and pay. 90
