OLD Social Studies

Collective Bargaining Activity

 

            This activity is designed for students to understand the purpose of unions through creating the collective bargaining process.

 

Goals:

1. For the students to understand the basics of collective bargaining.

2. For the students to understand the point of view of both the union and the employer in the process.

3. For the students to gain practice in group work and partnership.

4. For the students to gain practice in creative on the fly thinking.

 

Activity:

            The students are to be broken up into fours.  Two of the students in the group are to represent the union and two are to represent employers.  Each side will be given their instruction sheets, making sure that they know that the other side is not to see their sheet.  Each sheet contains what the current contract for the union is.  The Union sheet contains the present information along with what their minimum acceptable goals are.  The Employer info will contain the present information along with what their preferred goals are along with what are the unacceptable limits.

            The instructions are for the students to turn their desks so that they are across from each other.  They then have 20 minutes to negotiate a new three year contract.  If a new contract is not reached in that amount of time a mediator may be assigned to work out the differences.  A mediator can be a student who is already finished or the teacher can act as a mediator.

            After the groups are done with the negotiations, have the groups share what they have accomplished on the board.  Then do a comparison of what each group accomplished, then compare it to what the employers were looking for.  See which groups came out on top and do a discussion on why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Union Side

 

            It is the goal of your side to negotiate a contract so as to get the most number of gains possible for your fellow workers.  Remember, by starting out at the amount that you have decided as your goal at first will give you a lesser negotiated amount.  Be sure to start out with a high number then work your way down.  The other side is going to look for a certain amount, and if you can work your way down from a number the other side might think that they are getting a better deal.  You must also prioritize what you are negotiating for.  Obviously you want the most you can get for each category, but if you do not get as much for one thing, it might help in getting more for your important stuff.

 

            Current Contract                                  Wanted Contract                      End Contract

Wages              $28,500                                   $33,500                                   ____________

Retirement        5% Match                                $15% Match                            ____________

Child Care        None                                       Provide at work                        ____________

Rx Drug Plan    None                                        $5 co-pay plan                         ____________

Sick Days         2 a month                                 4 a month                                 ____________

Overtime          Time and a half                         Double Time                             ____________

Dental Plan       None                                        Full Coverage                           ____________

Vision Plan       Partial Coverage                       Full Coverage                           ____________

-You would like overtime based on hours worked a day.  Currently it is a week.

________________________________________________________________________

- Currently the medical plan covers only the worker.  You want dependents added.

________________________________________________________________________

- Currently there is no credit union for the company… You want one, and to have the company front half of the money to establish.

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employer Side

 

            It is your objective as the representative of the company to keep your employees happy but not give them too much.  You will want to start off by wanting the same contract and work your way up to a negotiated agreement.  If you start out by offering what your goal is then you will only end up by giving them more than you want.  The closer to the old contract you can stay the better.  Prioritize what goals are most important for you to keep low.  You may be able to keep some things low without sacrificing much if you can give in on some low priority issues. 

 

            Current Contract                                  Wanted Contract                      End Contract

Wages              $28,500                                   $30,000                                   ____________

Retirement        5% Match                                No change                                ____________

Child Care        None                                       Provide at work                        ____________

Rx Drug Plan    None                                       None                                        ____________

Sick Days         2 a month                                No change                                ____________

Overtime          Time and a half                         No change                                ____________

Dental Plan       None                                        Partial coverage                        ____________

Vision Plan       Partial Coverage                       No change                                ____________

-You would like overtime based on hours worked a day.  You want no change.

________________________________________________________________________

- Currently the medical plan covers only the worker.  You want dependents added.

________________________________________________________________________

- Currently there is no credit union for the company… You are willing to front 10% of the money needed to establish.

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Maximum contract you could give but it would seriously cut into your profits

Wages              $43,000

Retirement        11% match

Child Care        Provide at work

Rx Plan            Full coverage

Sick Days         4 a month

Overtime          Double time

Dental              Full coverage

Vision Plan       Full coverage

Overtime could be based on per day hours, but it would cost you more.

Medical Plan… Cover workers and dependents

Credit Union… You could front up to 22% of the money needed to establish.