Flashcards Studio

During negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, a company with a certified bargaining representative announces and implements, effective immediately, a set of changes in terms and conditions: permanent elimination of annual leave accrual, imposition of a new 12-hour shift pattern with no overtime pay, and the introduction of a productivity-based pay scheme. The changes are announced to all employees and take effect without prior consultation with the union; the union’s position had focused on preserving existing leave benefits, overtime pay, and a general wage increase linked to inflation. Management asserts that the measures are permanent business improvements that must be implemented now and can be discussed later. (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 available remedies.