Labor Agreements

Negotiations that conclude successfully, either without or after a strike, result in written, signed labor agreements. Most unions require that agreements be approved, or ratified, by their members before they become final, but ratification procedures are not a legal requirement. Labor agreements are very important documents. They are the basic source of rules governing the wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for unionized employees.
The provisions they contain typically go well beyond minimum legal requirements. Labor agreements contain enforceable contractual protections for employees. Employers must abide by the terms of labor agreements when making human resources decisions regarding employees represented by unions. Managers must be thoroughly familiar with any labor agreements that cover their employees.