Collective bargaining agreements and labor negotiations

Labor Union Negotiations

The Zinnia Hotel

Labor negotiations for the labor pool at The Zinnia Hotel should focus on various factors that are present in the current situation. Of these factors, the most important one is the fact that there have been positive reports on the stabilizing of the economy and companies in general are no longer feeling the impacts of the global recession. While at one time, companies could make the argument that the company and the labor force should share in the consequences of the recession, this argument is becoming increasingly irrelevant since the economy is getting healthier. Another factor that should serve as a foundation for negotiations is the fact that immigrant work has become such a large percentage of the local hospitality industry; which is definitely unfair to the domestic workforce.

Since a strike is not effectively beneficial to either party in this situation, the negotiations should be led by Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) tactics. This model has been shown to be successful in a variety of negotiating circumstances and it will serve as the basis for the Union's negotiating stance. This stance tries to create a balance between the negotiating power of the business as well as the collective bargaining of the employees. If such a balance is creating between these two forces then the result is usually a win-win situation in which both parties have benefited in some way. The business will generally have a stronger, more devoted workforce and the employee pool will be better compensated for their efforts.

The most important factor for the Union in these negotiations will be wages. Since wages were stagnant as a result of the recession, it is likely that this will be the most important factor that the employee base will want remuneration on. It is recommended that the Union begin the negotiations at a three percent pay increase a crossed the board. Since this is one of the key issues they should not settle on this point for anything less than two percent. Another key point is the issue of benefits. Healthcare costs continue to skyrocket and employees are left paying for the increases in costs without much help from their employers. Therefore, this should be the second key factor in the negotiations and should take the same stance. The Union should begin with a three percent offering and reduce it to no lower than two percent.

The other factors are slightly less salient however modest gains could stand to be earned in each of the different factors. For example, employees earn exactly zero vacation or holiday time during their first year. It is hard to imagine an employee working a whole year without any substantial break. Even a small vacation would do much to improve employee morale and make the workforce stronger. Therefore it is recommended that after three months of employment, employee should at least get a modest break. Then after six months they should also get another. They should at least a chance to take an extended weekend vacation somewhere so they can rejuvenate their spirits.