A letter with firm deadlines is sent out from the negotiator asking members to submit proposals.
You share any ideas you have that will improve your workplace or contract.
Proposals cannot be accepted after the deadline.
#2 – Form the Bargaining Committee
Union members from your workplace will join the committee, through appointment or election.
The committee reviews proposals and forms a proposal package that will be presented to your Employer at the start of bargaining.
#3 – Bargaining Begins
The committee and Employer exchange all proposals at the start of bargaining.
The committee and your Employer meet multiple times to discuss which proposals should end up in the new contract.
Bargaining can take days or months depending on the amount of proposals, and how much we disagree with each other’s proposals.
*A strike vote can take place at some point during bargaining
How does a STRIKE VOTE work?
A strike vote can happen any time during bargaining. However, you only get to take one strike vote.
When you vote at a strike vote, you are voting on whether or not you are giving your committee a strike mandate.
Voting yes to a strike mandate gives your committee the ability to apply more pressure on your Employer.
A majority strike vote does not automatically mean you will go on strike. The bargaining committee will use the strike mandate vote as a pressure tactic to get you a better offer to vote on.
#4 – Ratification meeting
If both sides come to a tentative agreement, or if the Employer has given a final offer, you’ll be invited to a meeting to hear the details and vote.
The bargaining committee will often make a recommendation to accept or reject this agreement
