In many industrialized countries, most employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement even though they are not members of a union.

Collective bargaining agreements are negotiated between unions and employers, but in some countries, they may cover all employees in a given industry or sector, whether they are union members or not. This is particularly common in countries with strong labor laws and regulations that protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. Examples include Germany, the Nordic countries, and some parts of Canada.