• Current benefits offered by employer and potential to build on existing benefits. For e.g. does the employer offer certain benefits to management level employees that could be extended to members of the bargaining unit?
• Any hardships being experienced by employees based on problems with existing benefits.
• Workforce need and interest in other types of benefits.
• Are the available benefits a worker right or discretionary?
• Who is making the decisions – the union, the management or a joint labor/management committee?
• Eligibility criteria for existing benefits and coverage limits. For e.g. are part time employees eligible for the same benefits as full time employees? Are domestic partners covered?
• Costs associated with the benefits provided.
• Do workers have a choice in terms of integrating benefits offered by the employer with any state/federal benefits?

Download the complete list of General Considerations on Bargaining for Work Family Benefits .