Collective Bargaining Agreements: How They Affect Your Rights

Collective Bargaining Agreements: How They Affect Your Rights

If you’re a construction worker in California, you may have heard about “Collective Bargaining Agreements” or CBAs. These agreements can greatly influence your wages, working conditions, and job benefits. Understanding how they work is the first step to protecting your rights at work. This article will break down what CBAs are, how they impact you in the construction industry, and what you can do if you feel your rights are being violated.

What Is a Collective Bargaining Agreement?

A Collective Bargaining Agreement is a legal contract between a labor union and an employer. In the construction industry, this often means a union representing a group of workers negotiates with a construction company to decide on things like pay rates, work hours, overtime rules, benefits, job safety, and grievance processes.

Once the agreement is made, it becomes legally binding for both the employer and the employee. This means both sides must follow the terms laid out in the contract. In California, these contracts are especially important where union membership is strong, such as in big cities and state-funded construction projects.

How Do CBAs Affect Construction Workers?

CBAs help ensure fairness in the workplace. Here’s how they can directly impact you as a construction worker in California:

• Wages: CBAs often set minimum wages for different job types. This helps maintain good pay across the industry.
• Working Conditions: The agreement outlines safety practices, break schedules, and how long your work day should be.
• Job Security: Unions can protect workers from unfair firing. If your employer tries to fire you without good cause, the union can step in.
• Benefits: Many CBAs include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Dispute Procedures: If you have a problem at work, the CBA usually gives you a clear process to follow and the union will help you out.

Are CBAs Always in Place?

Not all construction jobs in California are union jobs. If your company isn’t unionized, there may not be a CBA in place. However, on public works projects, prevailing wage laws and union agreements are more common. In these situations, CBAs often set the rules even if not every worker is in the union, especially on state-funded work.

Know Your Rights

Even with a CBA, sometimes issues can arise. Employers might misclassify your job position, underpay you, or fail to provide agreed benefits. If that happens, you don’t have to face it alone. It’s important to read your CBA and know what your union has negotiated on your behalf.

Having Trouble with a CBA?

If you’re a construction worker in California and feel that your rights under a Collective Bargaining Agreement are not being honored, don’t stay silent. Get help right away to protect your job and your income. For expert assistance, call Jonny Law at 800-566-4868. Our team is experienced in handling labor law issues and can help make sure you’re treated fairly under California law.