A union is an association of employees formed to negotiate with their employer with respect to matters regarding terms and conditions of employment, including pay, hours, and other employment-related conditions. The union is the exclusive negotiating agent, meaning no other individual, body, or organization is permitted to work with the employer on matters relating to employment.

Union representatives negotiate with employers through a mechanism called collective bargaining. The results of this process are contained in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and both parties are bound by the terms of this contract during its term or until a new CBA is in place. The union remains the exclusive representative for members of the bargaining unit until and unless (1) the union disavows interest in representing the unit, or (2) bargaining unit members voluntarily sign a petition seeking to decertify the union (after which a vote would be taken).

While an individual may not remove themselves from the agreed upon bargaining unit, they should talk with their Union representative to understand their option to opt out of paying for the non-representational activities of the union.

Union dues are a fee charged to bargaining unit members by the union and are calculated by the union to cover the costs of the union representation work, including contract negotiation, administration, and disputes. The dues may be a flat rate or a percentage of wages. They may also be used for the purpose of organizing at other employers and for making political contributions. Unions may seek to require that members of the bargaining unit who choose not to join the union pay an "agency fee" (sometimes called "fair-share" fee), typically a small percentage less than full dues, which is calculated by the union.

Unions support themselves through the assessment of union dues or fees collected from bargaining unit members.  Although the collection of dues is often facilitated by employers through a dues checkoff card, the money paid in dues must come directly from the employee.

Unions normally seek to require that all members of the bargaining unit pay dues or an agency fee. Typically, all union members must pay dues, regardless of if they voted, or how they voted in an election.

Unions negotiate collective bargaining agreements, which are contracts that dictate employees’ pay, benefits and other workplace issues.

The collective bargaining agreement or CBA is a labor contract between the union and the employer that memorializes the parties' agreements concerning wages, work hours and working conditions of members of the bargaining unit.  Mandatory subjects of bargaining as determined by the law and the National Labor Relations Board include: wages, overtime, shift premiums, grievance procedures, termination of employment, discharge and discipline. Permissible clauses may be negotiated by each party. The final Agreement lays out specific expectations between employer and employee and typically run for a period of three or four years.

Not unless defined by the collective bargaining agreement or agreed to between a union and Dartmouth.

Employee representatives chosen by their union will negotiate on behalf of the bargaining unit. Some unions will decide the representatives by a vote, others use a different process. Dartmouth will also be represented at the negotiation table.

Both sides come to the negotiating table to listen to each other and understand each other's priorities and demands. There is no expectation that negotiations begin from any pre-established point or convention –either side is free to set its goals and priorities and present them for negotiation. For example, either party could propose a new grievance policy during negotiations, or the parties could agree to revise certain policies that are already in place. 

The terms of the agreement are negotiated in this way until both sides agree on a tentative agreement which is then taken to the bargaining unit for a ratification vote. If the agreement is not ratified, it is not implemented, and the parties would need to return to the bargaining table.

It is difficult to say – the parties must continue to meet and bargain in good faith until an agreement is reached or they are at an impasse.  According to Bloomberg Law Labor Data, between 2005 and 2022 the average amount of time between an NLRB election date and first collective bargaining agreement is 460 days.

Supervisors are not permitted to be in a union under the National Labor Relations Act. It would be unlawful to have supervisors be part of the bargaining unit because of the inherent conflict in the union representing the interests of employees, and supervisors representing the interests of management, among other reasons.