Gaining Power Through Collective Bargaining

Gaining Power Through Collective Bargaining

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining means workers stand together and speak as one group. Instead of one worker talking to the boss alone, everyone joins together to ask for better pay, benefits, and safety.

You can think of it like this:

• One person asking is easier for a boss to ignore
• An entire group fighting together for better wages, benefits, and safety is nearly impossible to ignore

Why is collective bargaining so important?

It ensures workers have power at the table and more of an equal playing field when negotiating with the employer. .

With collective bargaining rights, workers can:

• Negotiate higher pay
• Negotiate better health insurance
• Ensure safer workplaces
• Demand a real voice on the job

Without collective bargaining rights:

• Workers are on their own left to fend for themselves
• The boss makes all the rules and decisions without input
• Workers have less say

Why do unions fight so hard to protect collective bargaining rights?

Because IT WORKS..

Union members know:

• When workers stand together, they win more at the bargaining table
• When workers stand alone, they get less

Unions fight for collective bargaining rights because it is the main necessary tool that helps workers improve their lives without the employer having an unfair advantage. 

What happens when states take away collective bargaining rights for workers?

In many states (like Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota), politicians took away or decimated collective bargaining rights. Minnesota is an island in the Upper Midwest where we are the only stand that guarantees collective bargaining rights for workers, but only because workers have fought back proposals to take away our rights and stay engaged.

When surrounding states took away collective bargaining this is what happened:

• Pay went down or stayed low

• Benefits got cut

• Work became less safe

• Workers lost their voice

Why?
Because workers could no longer stand together and negotiate and were subject to the whims of what management wanted to "give" workers which wasn't anywhere close to what workers deserve for the critical work they do.

Why is Minnesota different?

Minnesota still protects collective bargaining rights because union members and allies fight together to help elect pro-worker, pro workers' rights candidates for elected office because they are the people who will either protect or repeal collective bargaining rights. That is why we must always hold every politician accountable. 

That means:

• Workers can negotiate stronger contracts
• Workers can stand together in unity
• Workers have a voice on the job

Collective Bargaining has ensured union workers across our state have:

• Higher pay
• Better benefits
• Safer jobs

The bottom line

• Collective bargaining is about workers standing together
• Standing together ensures we have more power at the negotiating table
• More power at the table ensures we secure better jobs and better lives

And when collective bargaining would be taken away? Workers lose power… and everything gets worse.

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