(iv) A series of agreements provides for joint consultation in various forms; feasible and effective. A major weakness in collective bargaining is the diversity of unions. In a situation of multiple trade union policy, even a recognized trade union union, with long-standing stable and generally positive relations with management, adopts a combative attitude as its conscious strategy. A study by the Employers` Association of India showed that, out of 109 agreements, “wages” were the most important subject in 96 cases (88%), followed by the derteuer allowance (59 cases), pension benefits (53 cases), bonuses (50 cases) were annual leave, paid leave, work leave, work allocation, overtime , incentives, post allowances, show allowance, tiffin allowance, canteen and medical benefits. Today, we all know that long or excessive working hours can have serious negative effects on a person`s health and well-being. Eurofound`s new report “Evolution of Working Time in the 21st Century” suggests that people will still tend to work longer if working time standards are mainly abandoned to legislation or are set unilaterally by employers. On the contrary, if working time standards are negotiated through collective bargaining, the likely negative effects are less, as people work fewer hours on average. The results show that more than two-thirds of Member States have a regulated or negotiated working time regime, which involves the direct participation of social partners in the definition of working time. The eight Member States that are distinguished by purely mandated rules are all the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 (EU-13) and in which collective bargaining structures are developing. When executives and employees communicate with each other to reach an agreement, this can be seen as the result of collective bargaining. Most people see collective bargaining as the process in which workers` union members discuss with employers about the maintenance of benefits.
However, collective bargaining is the process that leads to the conclusion of workers` wages, workers` working time and working conditions in the company. He`s fluid. There is no hard and quick rule to reach an agreement. There is enough room for compromise. A spirit of giving and receiving works in the absence of a final agreement acceptable to both parties. It appears that the usual weekly hours tend to be shorter when working time standards are essentially defined by collective agreements. In other words, this means that collective bargaining on working time standards – particularly on working time – can have some sort of pillow effect on the working time actually done by workers. Moreover, it seems clear that actual working time is generally much longer when the setting of working time is mainly left to employers, as in the unilateral scheme of the United Kingdom. This is why the Eurofound report stresses that, when the definition of working time standards is defined with regard to the health and safety of workers, the involvement of social partners is essential given the positive articulation of collective bargaining with shorter working hours and, therefore, a lower impact of work on the health and well-being of workers.