Catherwood LibraryILR School

The Chilean government is remaining steadfast in pushing a labor law through congress that will aid unions through strengthening their collective bargaining rights. However, various opponents of the bill have called attention to how giving unions the power to decide who can and cannot participate in negotiations and share their benefits could deeply damage non-union workers’ bargaining rights. While in the U.S., unions have exclusive bargaining rights with the employer on behalf of their members, in Chile, workers can independently bargain with employers in unionized workplaces. The legislation’s expansion of unions’ leverage in collective bargaining could greatly empower unionized workers but could lead to legal conflict over independent workers’ ability to control their working conditions.