collective agreement

American  

noun

1. the contract, written or oral, made between an employer or employers and a union on behalf of all the employees represented by the union.

2. the schedule of wages, rules, and working conditions agreed upon.

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collective agreement British  

noun

1. a negotiated agreement, which is not enforceable at law, between an employer and employees' representatives, covering rates of pay or terms and conditions of employment, or both

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Etymology

Origin of collective agreement

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

collective agreement

The union has accused the carmaker of poor working conditions, withholding sick pay and covert redundancies, all enabled by the lack of a collective agreement to protect workers.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

"There will be no final decision until a collective agreement has been reached with worker representatives and approved by the French authorities," Ubisoft said.

From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen agreed to a five-year collective agreement providing increased wages and more flexible hours, the Calgary, Alberta, rail company said Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025

Mr Stark denied that the decision not to enter a collective agreement was one made at Tesla headquarter in the US.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2025

The anthracite operators had conditioned their submission to the award of the Commission by refusing to be drawn into a collective agreement with the miners' national organization, the United Mine Workers of America.

From The Coming of Coal by Bruere, Robert W.