As we prepare for our first conversation with the Industrial Workers of the World, Portland Chapter, d/b/a Burgerville Workers Union, on an employment contract for Store #41 on June 6, we’re committed to bargaining in good faith. “Good faith” is a legal term that’s used between companies and unions, but we want to take a look at what it means, and how we will bargain in good faith from the standpoint of our “Serve With Love” mission.
According to uslegal.com, the legal definition of good-faith bargaining is:
The duty of the parties to meet and negotiate at reasonable times with willingness to reach agreement on matters within the scope of representation; however, neither party is required to make a concession or agree to any proposal.
Good-faith bargaining requires employers and unions involved in collective bargaining to:
- Use their best endeavors to agree to an effective bargaining process.
- Meet and consider and respond to proposals made by each other.
- Respect the role of the other’s representative by not seeking to bargain directly with those for whom the representative acts.
- Not do anything to undermine the bargaining process or the authority of the other’s representative.
We believe that good-faith bargaining can be even more than the legal definition. We believe:
- Together, we have an opportunity to set an example for a new standard for non-adversarial bargaining.
- We should treat each other with dignity and respect—at the bargaining table, at our restaurants and in public.
- A healthy, thriving restaurant and company is in the mutual best interests of both parties.
- We should be transparent and truthful throughout the process. To that end, as a part of collective bargaining, we will ask that the updates be shared publicly.
This is a learning process. We’ve always become a better company when we’ve learned something new.
Yours with love,
Burgerville