"There is strength in numbers" is a popular cliche, and could quite possibly be considered a proverb. It is something that most of us have heard throughout our lives. It also lies at the heart of collective bargaining, and provides a reasonable, although simplistic reason for the use of collective bargaining, and is a good indication of where and for whom it is most useful.
             Collective bargainings' origins lie in one of man's primary instincts: defense. In industrial relations context this is defense of proper working conditions, secure and proper pay. Collective bargaining allowed this by gaining pay increases through increased power of the workers as a joint force. In this context collective bargaining is more of an economic and political invention which has influence on the social aspects of employment and living. Collective bargaining is most likely considered a great social invention simply because it provides more economic stability.
             Collective bargaining in its most basic form is the process by which an organization or group of employees, in the form of trade unions, negotiate with employers. They also associate with representatives in relation to any aspect of employment with employer's organization. The individual threat by an employee to withhold labor is not very great. But, when major workforces in an organization threaten to strike, or threaten any other form of organization, the threat is more substantial. Collective bargaining gives muscle to the imbalance of power between workers and employers (Gunnigle, 115). It is only recently that social issues have been included in the negotiations in collective bargaining. As this process tends to lead to equal pay for workers doing the same work, there is a consequence known as social benefit; equality in the workforce. While this can have it's downside, namely complacency among the employees, there is little incentive to do bett...