Bargaining Unit
The group of employees a union represents for purposes of collective bargaining, as determined by the NLRB or state board.
Full definition
A bargaining unit is the group of employees that a union represents for collective bargaining purposes. Bargaining units are typically defined by the NLRB (or a state public employment relations board) based on a "community of interest" analysis that looks at factors like skills, duties, working conditions, supervision, wages, and physical proximity. A bargaining unit may include all production workers at a single plant, all RNs at a hospital, all faculty at a university, or any other grouping that shares a meaningful community of interest. Bargaining unit composition matters: who is in (and out) determines who votes in union elections, who pays dues, and who is covered by the CBA.
Related terms
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
A legally binding contract negotiated between a union and an employer that governs wages, hours, and conditions of employment.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
The federal agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act, conducts union elections, and investigates unfair labor practices.
Duty of Fair Representation (DFR)
The union’s legal obligation to represent every member of the bargaining unit fairly, in good faith, and without arbitrary, discriminatory, or bad-faith conduct.
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