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Collective Bargaining Highlights--September 2007

9. Negotiations

On average, agreements in both the private and public sectors were ratified within five months from the start of negotiations (Table 5).

Of all settlements reached during the third quarter of 2007, 21 agreements involving 33% of employees were settled directly by the parties, compared to 31 agreements, covering 49% of employees, reached through conciliation or mediation. Three agreements involving 6% of employees were settled by arbitration, and seven agreements covering 12% of employees were settled following work stoppages.

In the public sector, 31% of employees reached settlements through conciliation or mediation, 53% settled through direct bargaining, 7% settled following work stoppages, and 9% settled by arbitration. In the private sector, 76% of employees reached agreements through conciliation or mediation, 3% settled through direct bargaining, and 21% of employees reached settlements following work stoppages (Table 6).