Collective Bargaining

Abstract

The study aims to explore the role of collective bargaining as a tool to strengthen industrial peace in SMEs. The current status of collective bargaining and its perceived effectiveness has been measured using a survey method from a sample of Northern and Southern India SMEs. Further, the attempt has been made to derive the challenges that SMEs face regarding collective bargaining and its usage for industrial peace. The study also has practical and theoretical implications as well. Hence, policymakers, government authorities, and the managers and owners of SMEs can take action to make collective bargaining a tool to strengthen the industrial peace in SMEs. An awareness campaign for SMEs and trade unions can be organized to discuss the challenges highlighted in this study to make maximum benefits out of collective bargaining. The study contributes to the literature, as largely the previous studies have been conducted in the context of collective bargaining for the large-scale industries only, not for medium or small-scale industries.