Which entity serves as the exclusive representative of employees in collective bargaining once a union has formed?

Which entity serves as the exclusive representative of employees in collective bargaining once a union has formed?

• A. The union
• B. The employer
• C. The government
• D. The workers' committee

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is exclusive representation in collective bargaining. Once a union is certified as the exclusive bargaining representative for a unit, it is empowered to bargain with the employer on behalf of all employees in that unit. This means the employer negotiates only with the union, and individual employees don’t strike their own deals or bypass the union. The union’s role includes representing everyone in the unit in negotiations and enforcing the resulting contract, ensuring consistency of terms for all workers. A workers’ committee might exist for internal governance in some contexts, but it does not hold the legal authority to bargain on behalf of the entire unit in the same way. The employer and government are not the exclusive representatives in this framework. Therefore, the exclusive representative is the union.

The idea being tested is exclusive representation in collective bargaining. Once a union is certified as the exclusive bargaining representative for a unit, it is empowered to bargain with the employer on behalf of all employees in that unit. This means the employer negotiates only with the union, and individual employees don’t strike their own deals or bypass the union. The union’s role includes representing everyone in the unit in negotiations and enforcing the resulting contract, ensuring consistency of terms for all workers. A workers’ committee might exist for internal governance in some contexts, but it does not hold the legal authority to bargain on behalf of the entire unit in the same way. The employer and government are not the exclusive representatives in this framework. Therefore, the exclusive representative is the union.