ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

On the Job

Unions in the Workplace

What happens if the employer fails to live up to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement?

Most union contracts contain grievance procedures. If the union believes that the employer has violated the contract, then the union can file a complaint through the grievance procedure. This procedure has several steps, during which the union and the employer attempt to settle the dispute themselves. If they are unsuccessful, the complaint may be submitted to an arbitrator for an impartial decision. At a hearing, the arbitrator will listen to evidence and arguments from both sides and decide whether the contract was violated. In most instances, the decision of the arbitrator is final.