Standard Union Contract Language for Contract Extension

Labor contract extensions state that both sides consent to prolong the current agreement.

Extending a collective bargaining agreement allows employees to continue working under their existing contract. Standard union contract language for a contract extension includes an expiration date, plus acknowledgment that the employer and union accept the terms and conditions.

Dates

Contract language specifies the extension's end date. Expiration dates for public sector wage agreements often are linked to budgetary cycles, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

Term

Union and business leaders sometimes agree to extend a current contract for one or more years. For example, city officials and Teamsters in Stamford, Connecticut, reached an agreement in 2009 to add one more year to their current contract. Likewise, sheriffs in Marin County, California, decided in 2009 that instead of regrouping at the bargaining table in 2010, they would extend their agreement into 2011.

Interim

Contract extensions sometimes are temporary. Prior to labor talks, negotiators typically agree on steps to take if they reach an impasse, according to Labor Union Resources. They might consent to automatically extending a contract for a brief period instead of risking a work stoppage during intense negotiations.

Ratification

Union contract extensions state that both sides support the action. In addition, the extension bears signatures from union and management representatives.

References

• City of Stamford, Connecticut: Collective Bargaining Agreement
• County of Marin, California: One Year Extension of Memorandum of Understanding
• Labor Union Resources: Introduction
• University of Missouri Extension: Effective Negotiations