Final answer:
Collective bargaining is the process used for negotiating and administering a union contract. The National Labor Relations Board handles disputes that arise between unions and employers. Other methods like mediation, arbitration, and grievance procedures come into play for post-contract disputes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process for negotiating a union contract and for administrating the contract after it has been negotiated is known as collective bargaining. In the context of labor relations, collective bargaining is a process where a labor union and an employer negotiate to determine the terms of employment. This includes wages, working conditions, benefits, and other employment-related matters.
After an agreement is reached, the same mechanism serves to administer the contract. Forming a union often involves complex procedures, which can include secret ballots or signing official cards, as seen in the different approaches between countries like the United States and Canada.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is set up to resolve disputes that may arise between unions and employers. In contrast to collective bargaining, methods like mediation, arbitration, and the grievance procedure are used after a contract is in place to resolve specific disagreements that may occur during the life of the contract.