Which statement best defines collective bargaining?

• A. A process of negotiating wages and working conditions
• B. A right to union negotiated wages and working conditions
• C. A method for selecting job assignments
• D. A process of outsourcing

Answer: (B)

Collective bargaining is the organized process by which workers, usually through a union, negotiate with the employer over terms of employment—wages, hours, benefits, safety, and working conditions. The best statement frames this as a right: workers have the right to have these terms negotiated on their behalf by a union. This highlights the representation and protected, collective nature of the process, rather than implying it’s just a unilateral management decision or unrelated to wages and conditions. While negotiating wages and working conditions is a true part of collective bargaining, stressing the right to union representation emphasizes the collective, legal framework that makes bargaining possible.