Wage Indicator Collective Bargaining Agreement
A collective agreement is usually a written agreement between an employer and a union on behalf of salaried workers. It contains provisions that reflect the conditions of employment of workers and give them their rights, privileges and obligations. A collective agreement is defined in the Labour Relations Act as “a written agreement on all terms of employment between a union and an employer, a group of employers or an employer organization.” A collective bargaining process precedes it. The use of research instruments provided by the Collective Agreement Database on Wage Indicators has developed a CBA model for some East African countries and Ghana. The samples are unique in nature, as they are sufficiently specific, general and adopted to enable social partners to develop a more employment-oriented CBA, which is not only a repetition of basic labour law, but a real improvement over the availability of existing labour legislation. These CBAs enable partners to improve their relationship in the workplace, become more engaged, have high productivity, reduce workplace injuries and be happy at work. So it`s not only good for workers, but also for employers and their families. To enter into a recognition agreement with the employer, the union must have recruited a simple majority of the total number of unionized workers from that employer. In the absence of a recognition agreement, the employer cannot recognize the union for the purpose of representing the workers of that employer, in any capacity, in matters or in relation to the conditions of employment.
With its global data set, the Wage Indicators Foundation provided information that could not be imagined ten years ago. Agreements that have been concluded in different parts of the world can be scanned around the world. In addition to the use of graphic tools, it is possible to research various topics, such as maternity law, social security, occupational safety and health, worker well-being and many others, to assess the progress made, but also challenges that can be met through learning from countries relatively better placed in thematic practices. Thus, the instrument is good for trade unions, employers` organizations, academic institutions and even students. It is a wonderful tool that has been made available through the wage indicator, to unions and employers around the world. After the CBA audit that we collected, we found that many CBAs replicated the provisions of labour law instead of starting from the law.