Description
Plan, lead, and support collective bargaining by developing strategy, drafting and costing proposals, conducting negotiations, advising leaders, and ensuring compliance with negotiated agreements and labor law.
- • Advise executives on bargaining strategy, priorities, and contract administration issues that affect negotiations.
- • Meet with union and management representatives to plan and conduct bargaining sessions.
- • Draft and redline proposals, counterproposals, tentative agreements, and side letters.
- • Develop and document bargaining ground rules, calendars, and protocols.
- • Build alternative packages and trade-offs to advance settlement.
- • Interpret CBA language and bargaining history for stakeholders.
- • Analyze and evaluate union proposals and supporting rationales.
- • Facilitate discussions and mediate impasses at the bargaining table.
- • Monitor adherence to CBAs and tentative agreements and resolve compliance gaps.
- • Lead or co-lead negotiations for collective bargaining agreements.
- • Prepare and submit required governmental filings related to bargaining or labor relations.
- • Prepare costing models, briefs, and presentations to inform leadership decisions.
- • Present the organization’s position in mediation, fact-finding, or arbitration tied to bargaining.
- • Propose settlement options and language to resolve bargaining issues.
- • Recommend bargaining goals, fallback positions, and escalation paths.
- • Review proposed discipline and due-process language for contractual alignment.
- • Audit wage, hour, and condition data for compliance with negotiated terms.
- • Schedule negotiation sessions, caucuses, and related grievance or labor-management meetings.
- • Draft formal correspondence on amendments, impasse, disputes, or clarification of contract terms.
- • Assess risks associated with bargaining strategies, work stoppages, or impasse procedures.
- • Cost and assess operational impacts of union and management proposals.
- • Develop proposals on safety, scheduling, benefits, and other terms of employment for CBAs.
- • Design and run surveys or listening sessions to gather employee input for bargaining.
- • Prepare exhibits and witnesses for interest arbitration or hearings on bargaining matters.
- • Provide expert testimony on bargaining history, intent, or contract interpretation.
- • Research case law, arbitration awards, and prior settlements to guide strategy.
- • Recommend or select mediators, fact-finders, or arbitrators for negotiations.
- • Train managers on CBA provisions, bargaining conduct, and implementation responsibilities.
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Management & Entrepreneurship
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
