How do you initiate bargaining for a collective contract?

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Accepted Answer

To initiate bargaining, each party must get or give a notice of initiation of bargaining. There has to be at least one union and one employer. If they agree to it, other parties can be added after bargaining begins. A ‘notice of initiation of bargaining’ is a letter signed by the union or the employer saying they want to bargain for a collective agreement. It names the parties and who or what work the agreement will cover (coverage clause). This is a legal requirement before bargaining can happen. It can be signed by the union or employer, or their agent.
The coverage clause comes from the party who starts the bargaining. This describes the work and/or employees they want to cover. It’s negotiable in the bargaining, for instance, a union may want to cover managers but an employer may oppose it. A secret ballot of union members or employers must be held if more than one employer or union is a party in the notice. If this process isn’t followed, for example, a party sends a draft collective employment agreement instead of a notice initiating bargaining, then bargaining hasn’t been initiated.
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