CASE INCIDENT

The Pros and Cons of Collective Bargaining

There is disagreement whether unions help or hinder an organization's ability to be successful, however they often figure prominently in the study of workplace conflict and negotiation strategies. Fewer employees in the private sector are unionized compared with those who work in the public sector. Unions can protect the right of workers and negotiating as a collective, they often have been able to negotiate better settlements. But are these settlements sustainable? It is also often more difficult to fire a member of a union, even if performance is exceptionally poor.

Questions

If unions have negotiated unreasonable agreements, what responsibility does management or the administration bear for agreeing to these terms? Why do you think they agree?