The essay analyzes actors, functions and scope of collective agreements at plant level. It considers their evolution and takes into account case law, dealing with the expansion of their scope, making them binding for all employees at plant level. The emergence of separate collective agreements creates tension among bargaining agents, determining different parameters of reference. The recent Interconfederal Agreement of 28 June 2011 introduces a majority principle to deal with all such problems.
Keywords: Collective agreement; Bargaining agents; Scope of collective agreements; Separate collective agreements; Majority principle