collective agreement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (Legal/HR/Industrial Relations), Formal
Quick answer
What does “collective agreement” mean?
A formal, written contract negotiated between a trade union or employee representatives and an employer or employers' association, which sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a group of workers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal, written contract negotiated between a trade union or employee representatives and an employer or employers' association, which sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a group of workers.
A labour agreement that governs the relationship between workers and management, covering items like wages, working hours, benefits, grievance procedures, and workplace rights for the represented employee group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term 'collective agreement' is standard. In the US, 'collective bargaining agreement (CBA)' is the overwhelmingly more common term, though 'collective agreement' is understood.
Connotations
Both have neutral-to-formal legal connotations. The US term 'CBA' explicitly references the bargaining process.
Frequency
'Collective agreement' is high-frequency in UK/EU/Commonwealth industrial relations contexts. In the US, 'collective bargaining agreement' is dominant, with 'collective agreement' being less common.
Grammar
How to Use “collective agreement” in a Sentence
The union and management reached a collective agreement.The collective agreement covers [specific issue, e.g., overtime pay].Under the collective agreement, workers are entitled to [benefit].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “collective agreement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The parties agreed to collectively bargain for a new settlement.
- The workforce is collectively represented by Unite.
American English
- The union and management agreed to collectively negotiate the terms.
- Employees are collectively bargaining for better healthcare.
adverb
British English
- The staff acted collectively to endorse the deal.
- The decision was made collectively by the union reps.
American English
- They negotiated collectively through their chosen representatives.
- The benefits were applied collectively to all union members.
adjective
British English
- The collective bargaining process was lengthy.
- They sought collective redress through the union.
American English
- The collective bargaining session lasted all night.
- There is a strong collective voice among the workers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new collective agreement will increase our labour costs by 3% next fiscal year.
Academic
The study examines the correlation between the presence of strong collective agreements and wage inequality across the EU.
Everyday
Our pay rise and extra holiday days were all part of the new collective agreement the union negotiated.
Technical
Article 4.2 of the collective agreement stipulates the mandatory consultation period prior to any redundancy proceedings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “collective agreement”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “collective agreement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “collective agreement”
- Using it to refer to an informal gentlemen's agreement (it is formal and binding).
- Using it synonymously with 'company policy' (a collective agreement is co-created with the union).
- Confusing 'collective agreement' (noun) with 'agree collectively' (verb phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in most jurisdictions with established labour laws, a duly signed collective agreement is a legally binding contract between the signatory parties (the union and the employer/employers' association).
It typically covers all employees in the bargaining unit that the union represents, which may be all workers at a company, in a specific department, or within a particular trade or industry, depending on the agreement's scope.
An individual employment contract is between one employee and the employer. A collective agreement sets the baseline terms and conditions for a whole group of employees. The individual contract cannot offer terms worse than those in the collective agreement.
An employer can refuse during negotiations. However, in many countries, once negotiations conclude and both parties agree on terms, there is a legal or customary expectation to formalise it in a signed agreement. Refusal to sign after agreement in principle may constitute bad faith bargaining.
A formal, written contract negotiated between a trade union or employee representatives and an employer or employers' association, which sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a group of workers.
Collective agreement is usually technical (legal/hr/industrial relations), formal in register.
Collective agreement: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛktɪv əˈɡriːmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈlɛktɪv əˈɡrimənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be covered by a collective agreement”
- “to bargain in good faith (process leading to an agreement)”
- “to hammer out an agreement”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COLLECTIVE = a group of workers. AGREEMENT = a contract. So it's the GROUP'S CONTRACT with the boss.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RULEBOOK for the workplace; A SHIELD protecting workers' rights.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'collective bargaining agreement' most likely to be used instead of 'collective agreement'?