single table bargaining

single table bargaining

a form of COLLECTIVE BARGAINING where all the trade unions in an organization sit together in negotiations over pay and conditions of employment. The alternative is separate negotiations between each union and management. The benefit of single table bargaining is that it inhibits leapfrog bargaining where each bargaining group tries to outdo the others. The trend in the UK is towards greater use of single table bargaining in those organizations that negotiate with trade unions.