Collective Bargaining — 3

When we use all of our collective resources, plan strategically, and follow through in detail, we can use our recent experiences to make the judgments necessary to adjust to new developments and tactics as they emerge.

In addition, the IAM also uses resources outside of our internal structure to concentrate on the bargaining strategies that defend our members’ job security, wages, hours and working conditions. The IAM’s participation as a member of the AFL-CIO also allows us to use the resources of the AFL-CIO Strategic Approaches Committee. Strategic campaigns have taught us the power we can collectively generate to move in the same direction without the necessity for job action. Strategic campaigns using all of the approaches previously mentioned will actually augment the collective bargaining process.

Together with the AFL-CIO’s newly activated Industrial Union Council (IUC), we can concentrate our efforts to provide a forum for unions to discuss major bargaining activity, coordinate strategic affiliate relationships, and utilize the Federation’s regional, national, international and political resources to augment and support those of the IAM.

Implementation

The collective bargaining process involves the exchange of commitments. Maintaining the positive relationship between Locals, Districts, and Territories through the close of negotiations will require effort, but our members are up to the task.

As we explore our strategies, we must also be aware of our relationships with the employer. A healthy relationship is preferable with the employer; however, we recognize the welfare of our members comes first. Working proactively, rather than reacting, more often than not improves the relationship. Negative relationships will usually result in misunderstandings, commitments being half kept, misapplications and misinterpretations, with an increasing number of grievances and arbitration cases. This obviously works against the maintenance of the collective bargaining agreement, making it even more difficult for the parties to engage in enhancing the relationship between the employer and the IAM.