How do we get a collective bargaining agreement?
Do you work in a company without a collective bargaining agreement? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to establish a collective bargaining agreement.
1. Talk to your colleagues
The first thing you need to do is talk to your colleagues at work. Maybe there are more people than you who want more orderly working conditions and a collective bargaining agreement?
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2. Contact Fellesforbundet
Fellesforbundet has departments across the country. They have extensive experience in how to proceed to obtain a collective bargaining agreement at companies, and can give you advice and assistance. See overview of all of Fellesforbundet's departments, or contact us directly to find your department.
3. Choose a union representative
When you have more members at the company, you must elect a union representative (or several). The union representatives are the contact persons between the members and Fellesforbundet's department. When a collective bargaining agreement is in place, the union representatives are also the ones the management at the company should relate to.
4. The more the better
You are stronger in the demand for a collective bargaining agreement the more of you there are. Fellesforbundet has as a rule of thumb that at least half of those who work in Fellesforbundet's areas at the company must be members before a demand for a collective bargaining agreement is submitted.
The very best is if everyone is a member. Therefore it is important that you talk about membership with as many as possible. Maybe there are more of you who can share the task?
5. Keep an overview
New members should be registered continuously. It is important to know who is a member when a demand for a collective agreement is to be submitted. It is Fellesforbundet that sends the demand to the company on behalf of the members
6. If the employer does not want a collective bargaining agreement
For Fellesforbundet to enter into a collective bargaining agreement on behalf of you who work there, there are some prerequisites that must be in place. A majority of those who work at the company must be members of Fellesforbundet, and you must be willing to fight to get the employer to sign.
Sometimes the employer refuses to sign the collective bargaining agreement, and sometimes it goes so far that we must strike to get the agreement in place. At other times the employer also sees the benefit of having clear agreements and signs right away.
It can be wise to discuss how the employer will react to a demand for a collective bargaining agreement, so that we are prepared!
All of Fellesforbundets avdelinger have long experience with establishing tariff agreements at new places. Therefore, have a good talk with the department you belong to about how it is wise to proceed.
7. When the collective bargaining agreement is in place
When the collective bargaining agreement is in place you must inform the employer who has been chosen as the union representatives. Those who are members of Fellesforbundet now form the club at the workplace. How many union representatives you should have is determined by how large your club is. Fellesforbundet offers courses for both members and union representatives where you learn laws, rules, and how to run a club.
8. The company union starts its work
Now you can start working to secure good and fair pay and working conditions at the workplace. The first thing you should do is determine whether everything is in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and other laws and regulations.
In the beginning, it's wise to take one thing at a time, and perhaps not start with the issues you think will be the hardest to get through. If you can find an issue that many of the members care about, and that you think you can get with the management to agree to, tackle that first. Discuss with each other, and feel free to use the Fellesforbundet department as an advisor.