• Reaching settlement
• Learning by de-briefing
• Living with the agreement

Living with the agreement

Introduction

Once the bargaining is over and the document is signed there is still work to be done to ensure that the ends are tied up.  This begins the phase we call “living with the agreement”.

What must I do?

If this is the first agreement for your workplace then it is important to remember that union fees must be deducted from union members’ salary or wages and paid to the union concerned, if this requirement has not been bargained away in the collective agreement.

An employer may commit a breach of good faith if that employer passes on to non-union individual employees terms and conditions agreed to with a union if it is both done with the intent to undermine and has the effect of undermining the collective agreement.

A copy of the agreement must be delivered to the Chief Executive of the Department of Labour as soon as practicable.

What else can I do?   

• An agreement reached in bargaining becomes enforceable in law and there are different ways to make sure that everyone is aware of the new rights and obligations the agreement contains.  If your bargaining was difficult or protracted and contains many new provisions you may want to set down a mid-term review to look at the operation of the agreement.  Such a step can save problems escalating before the next round of bargaining.  Here is a quick checklist:

Does payroll know about any adjustments to wages/salaries?	y/n
Has everyone received information verbally or in writing about the changes?	y/n
Is training required for effective implementation?	y/n
Have you checked induction programmes are consistent with the changes?	y/n
Have you set down time for a mid-year review to monitor the progress of the new agreement?	y/n

• After the bargaining is over it can be useful and appropriate to come together to talk about the past experience and the workplace in the future.  Two frameworks for your discussion are available on this website

1. Learning by de-briefing using the de-briefing template
2. Building a desired culture using the discussion template as a starting point for your team.

On the panel on the right side of the screen you can access information and resources to assist you to bring a considered close to the process of bargaining.  This includes a sample template for a discussion about the type of workplace culture you want to establish into the future.  You will also see contact details for lodging the copy of your completed collective employment agreement.