Introduction
I chose the second stage of collective bargaining both sides prepare. This stage involves building up the negotiation process that will occur later. It requires parties to be thorough and meticulous in their contract review (Doyle, 2021). As a result, there are opportunities for the review processes of the employment contract to improve immensely. An impressive and successful bargain depends on satisfactory scrutiny of details in the preparation stage.
Discussion
The six steps of collective bargaining include the first stage, need for negotiation, which helps identify a dispute worthy of a review. The second step is both sides prepare; its details are discussed above. The third step is the part where parties agree to ground rules. Here, the management and labor lay acceptable ground rules for the bargaining sessions. The fourth step is where negotiating begins in earnest, addressing mandatory versus illegal issues. The management and labor reach a tentative agreement in the fifth step after back-and-forth discussions. Finally, the union members vote to ratify the agreement through a secret ballot in accordance with the union rules.
Of the steps, I perceive the second stage to be the most important step in the collective bargaining process. In contrast, the least important step is the fifth, which requires the negotiating parties to reach a tentative agreement before proceeding to the vote (Doyle, 2021). Since the final step of a secret ballot determines the overall outcome, there is little need for the back and forth involved in the fifth step. Admittedly, all the steps are necessary to achieve an undisputable outcome. In case one of the stages is eliminated, there could be a challenge, and conflicts may arise. However, since step five is related to four, it can be skipped, and both negotiation and agreement be achieved at stage four. The several rounds taken before reaching a tentative agreement could be avoided and still achieve the same results; hence, it is unnecessary.
Conclusion
Collective bargaining is a process that provides a secure future for employees. It is a preparation process for protecting their interests, such as wage increments, promotions, other benefits, and fair terms and conditions of their contract (Doyle, 2021). The goal of this process is to minimize conflicts by providing a proper channel to solve problems. It is the most effective and practical method of protecting employees from excessive exploitation at the expense of their human rights.
Reference
Doyle, A. (2021). How the collective bargaining process works.Thebalance. Web.