Flashcards Studio

During negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, a technology manufacturing firm with a certified bargaining representative unilaterally announces and implements: (i) outsourcing of the plant's maintenance function to a third-party contractor; (ii) adoption of a permanent two-shift schedule with 12-hour shifts and elimination of overtime pay; (iii) a tightened attendance policy with higher penalties for unscheduled absences; (iv) a productivity-based pay scheme linked to plant-wide output. The changes apply to all bargaining-unit employees and were announced after implementation. The union had proposed a general wage increase and retention of in-house maintenance. (a) Identify the governing doctrine and the essential elements of good-faith bargaining. (b) Applying the doctrine, assess whether these unilateral changes violate the duty to bargain in good faith and constitute unfair labor practices, and explain the available remedies.