- Union contracts set wage rules and work hours.contract 20309 image by pablo from Fotolia.com
Union contracts are negotiated between individual unions and separate employers, so the benefits and rules can vary. There are, however, benefits in union contracts that are similar to one another, as they establish the basics of base pay, hours, work conditions and overall employee protection. - The biggest part of the contract is almost always establishing rules of pay. It sets the base rate, and it can includes rules such as higher wages for overtime or weekend and holiday work. It also may specify how raises are given.
- Union contracts will define the number of hours for a full shift, either daily or weekly, and insist on overtime pay for working beyond those hours. A shift is usually defined as eight hours in a day and/or 40 hours in a week. It also establishes daily work breaks: usually two 15-minute periods along with the lunch hour for an eight-hour shift. A contract usually specifies how much time off is allowed for vacation and illness.
- Another staple is the right of workers to file grievances against management for poor conditions or treatment so they may be resolved peacefully. Workers may also have the right to appeal being fired, usually within a 30-day window. These appeals and grievances are usually handled by the steward, a union representative who helps other workers with such issues.
- Union contracts can include guarantees that workers won't strike for the life of the contract in exchange for management not locking them out. Unions discourage this because it removes an important tool. There may also be clauses for solidarity, meaning workers are allowed to honor another union's strike and picket line.
- The contract can require that management cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, etc. It can also establish a seniority system, which uses employee experience and longevity to determine which workers are first it be offered overtime or laid off.
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