Hi,
You have lot many suggestions and I would not like to add further confusion. However, I would like to cover the points which are not there.
1) If you have received the Charter of Demands (COD), evaluate the Charter and the Demands made by Union.
2) You can find out what exactly is demanded in Wages and other benefits and their Cost to Company.
3) Your Company's Financial position now and 3 years later must be known and you should keep the paper handy, including Forecast of Order position, Competitors data etc.
4) You should be ready with Wage Data of similar neighbouring Industries or your Competitors data of Wages and other benefits.
5) It is always "Give and Take" hence you must be prepared with Management Demands i.e. Prductivity, Discipline, Innovations, Incentive if any.
6) Negotiations Teams should be of equal no, which includes Production, Safety, Finance, Quality, Warehouse etc.ofcourse HR should lead it.
7) Opening meeting should be a person who can explain Company's Financial Position, Competition, Future of Company etc
If it is under Conciliation, you will have to take lot of precautions as Consiliation officer normally get the final figure from you and ty to close it +- to that level, which is normally more than your final figure and for Union that will become base figure. So be careful.
Thanks and best wishes.
Ravindra Chaubal
Sr. Manager - HR