ABSTRACT
A collective bargaining agreement, or often referred to as the “union contract,” is “an agreement between the employer and a labor union which regulates terms and conditions of employment. The primary times in the life of the collective bargaining process which may impact the safety and health function often includes the initial campaign by the labor organization, the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement, and the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement. Safety and health professionals should be aware that preparing for collective bargaining negotiations takes substantial time, research, training, and resources. Safety and health professionals should be prepared to conduct a substantial amount of research, case studies, and case and data analysis for each safety or related issue in preparing for negotiations. Safety and health professionals should be aware that the results of the collective bargaining negotiations can move in various directions.
