Anatomy of Collective & Bargaining Process: A Case Study of Steel Mesh Manufacturing Organization in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The collective and bargaining process has become a passion in today's context between employers and employee's trade unions in resolving employee’s related concerns. Both parties do not willing to lose as both are strong in power. Hence collective and bargaining process tends to conclude with a win-win situation as an integrative solution.   The anatomy explored many anthropological scenarios and it unveils facts of contribution and impact to the organizational growth when having collective bargaining agreements. The case study explored the inside story of the collective bargaining process associated to the study conducted in a steel mesh manufacturing organization in Sri Lanka. The main concern on having collective bargaining agreements was to adjust the salaries par to the country inflation. Thus two types of increases had been practiced by the organization for signing agreements during last two decades. The study discussed advantages and disadvantages of two methods of salary increases in previous seven collective and bargaining agreements. The application of the best suitable method to increase salaries of employees is to be selected after a proper study, depending on economic and social factors. The integrative approach of collective bargaining gives a win-win solution; however, it takes a long period for the best solution. That makes a huge loss to the organization by creating various disciplinary issues, disrupting industrial harmony.