collective bargaining
- noun
- /kəˈlɛktɪv ˈbɑːrɡənɪŋ/
- Specialized
- The workers' union reached a new collective bargaining agreement that improved wages and benefits for all employees.
- a collective bargaining agreement
- collective bargaining process
- collective bargaining power
You know, as I said earlier, I, I'm not somebody who in any way denigrates unions or doesn't believe in collective bargaining.
- You know, as I said earlier, I, I'm not somebody who in any way denigrates unions or doesn't believe in collective bargaining.
Examples
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I want to know about local tax structures, transportation problems, collective bargaining issues...
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However, in terms of severance, that is taken care of in the world of collective bargaining.
Academic text (1996) -
I'm here to do a little collective bargaining.
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The state can look at the successful collective bargaining agreements from the second option.
Blog text (11) -
Just to give you a little background, sometimes wages are set by collective bargaining, unions in particular.
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The historical record is much the same on wages, labor unions, and collective bargaining.
Academic text (2017) -
Thus, for example, employees who are covered by collective bargaining agreements are not at-will employees.
Academic text (1996) -
In other words, collective bargaining has instrumental advantages in that it protects and advances workers' interests.
Academic text (1996) -
There were many outstanding collective bargaining agreements between the private shipping companies and the maritime unions.
Academic text (2017) -
The emphasis on arbitration is evident not only in the collective bargaining process, but also in the non-unionized sector.
Academic text (1996)
Synonyms
A discussion to reach an agreement, often in business or politics
Talking and agreeing about a deal to get a better price or conditions
Antonyms
How Formal
- Specialized
- Formal
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning can be directly derived from 'collective' (by a group) + 'bargaining' (negotiating): together they mean negotiation carried out by a group, which a B1 learner who knows both words can infer. This compositional pattern is common across languages (e.g. Spanish 'negociación colectiva'), so the term is transparent despite being a technical workplace concept.
Etymology
Collective bargaining comes from a simple image: many workers, the collective, standing together to bargain with their employer, like a group at a market trying to get a better deal. So, the phrase means 'negotiation between an employer and a group of employees' because the group bargains together to improve pay and conditions.