Collective Bargaining

Definition

Collective bargaining is the process by which workers, through their unions, negotiate with employers to determine the terms and conditions of employment, such as wages, benefits, and working conditions. It is a fundamental right for workers to have a voice in shaping their workplace environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Collective bargaining was a key strategy used by labor unions to advocate for workers' rights and better working conditions during the industrialization of the United States.
2. The right to collective bargaining was a central demand of the labor movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as workers sought to counterbalance the power of large corporations.
3. The Wagner Act of 1935, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, guaranteed workers the right to organize, join unions, and engage in collective bargaining.
4. The Second New Deal, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the mid-1930s, further strengthened the legal protections for collective bargaining and the labor movement.
5. Collective bargaining has been a contentious issue, with employers often resisting unions and seeking to limit the power of workers to negotiate the terms of their employment.

Review Questions

• Explain how collective bargaining was used by labor unions to improve working conditions during the industrialization of the United States.
  • Collective bargaining was a key strategy employed by labor unions during the industrialization of the United States to advocate for workers' rights and better working conditions. Through collective bargaining, workers were able to unite and negotiate with employers to determine the terms and conditions of their employment, such as wages, benefits, and working hours. This allowed workers to have a voice in shaping their workplace environment and counterbalance the power of large corporations that often exploited their labor. The labor movement's fight for the right to collective bargaining was a central part of the struggle to improve the lives of workers during this period of rapid industrialization and economic transformation.
• Describe the legal protections and support for collective bargaining that were established during the Second New Deal.
  • The Second New Deal, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the mid-1930s, further strengthened the legal protections and support for collective bargaining. The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, had previously guaranteed workers the right to organize, join unions, and engage in collective bargaining. The Second New Deal built upon this foundation, providing additional legal safeguards and government support for the labor movement and the collective bargaining process. This included measures to prevent employers from interfering with or retaliating against workers who engaged in collective bargaining, as well as the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board to oversee and enforce labor relations laws. These policy changes during the Second New Deal era were crucial in empowering workers and labor unions to negotiate more effectively with employers.
• Analyze the broader significance of collective bargaining in the context of the labor movement and the industrialization of the United States.
  • Collective bargaining was a central component of the labor movement's efforts to improve the lives of workers during the industrialization of the United States. By giving workers the right to organize and negotiate the terms of their employment, collective bargaining empowered them to counterbalance the significant power and influence of large corporations. This process was crucial in securing better wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers, and helped to address the imbalance of power that had often led to the exploitation of labor. The legal protections and government support for collective bargaining, particularly during the Second New Deal era, were transformative in strengthening the labor movement and its ability to advocate for workers' rights. Ultimately, the collective bargaining process represented a fundamental shift in the relationship between workers and employers, and played a vital role in shaping the economic and social landscape of industrializing America.

Related terms

Labor Union: An organization of workers who unite to promote and protect their common interests, such as better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Strike: A concerted refusal by employees to work in order to compel an employer to accede to their demands, such as higher wages or better working conditions.

Labor Movement:

The organized effort of workers to improve their economic and social conditions through collective action, such as forming unions and engaging in collective bargaining.