Navigating Collective Bargaining
On December 2nd, 2024, the Scheinman Institute hosted “Costing Out the CBA: Top Five Pro-Tips”, a webinar that provided critical guidance for management and union representatives. The session focused on practical strategies for costing out a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a vital yet often misunderstood aspect of negotiations.
The webinar featured Dan McCray, Director of Labor Relations Programs at the Scheinman Institute, Kyle Anone, Senior Manager, Center of Collective Bargaining, American Federation of Teachers, and Lisa L. Hunter, Executive Fellow, Institute for Compensation Studies, at Cornell.
The five CBA strategies addressed by the experts were:
- Understand the Economic Context
Given the tight labor market, rising employee expectations, and evolving workplace dynamics, it's critical to understand the economic context surrounding compensation issues.
- Focus on Total Compensation
It’s important to move beyond just salary considerations and consider the broader picture, including benefits, retirement plans, and non-monetary incentives, as part of total compensation. This comprehensive view ensures that all elements of a CBA are accurately assessed, allowing for more effective negotiations.
- Leverage Data and Metrics
Data-driven decision-making is essential with a reliance upon metrics, industry standards, and financial modeling. This not only strengthens proposals, but enables both sides to evaluate the true cost of potential changes to the agreement.
- Manage Expectations with Flexibility
With the business environment constantly shifting, being adaptable to unexpected challenges and finding creative solutions is crucial for success.
5. Clear Communication is Key
Lastly, effective communication was underscored as a foundational element in fostering trust and transparency, ensuring smooth discussions between parties.
The success of collective bargaining hinges on the ability of both sides to adapt to changing economic realities, be flexible in their approaches, and most importantly, maintain an open line of communication throughout the process. These insights offer practical advice for successfully navigating the complexities of collective bargaining in today’s dynamic landscape.
View the entire webinar here.
The Scheinman Institute offers a 3-day Compensation and Costing for Collective Bargaining class in NYC February 3-5, 2025. Register and learn more information here.
All of ILR Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining programs can be customized for organizations and delivered on-site or over zoom. Available courses can be found here.