Business agent (labor)

A business agent is a title, used in some labor unions, for a leading representative of a local union. It is commonly a paid, full-time position.{{cite web |url=https://teamster.org/content/definitions-common-labor-terms#b |title=Definitions of Common Labor Terms |date=27 October 2008 |publisher=International Brotherhood of Teamsters |accessdate=January 7, 2015}} It can be abbreviated B.A. The duties of a business agent may vary greatly from union to union, but in general, a business agent can be expected to safeguard workers' rights under a collective bargaining agreement and act as a liaison to other representatives higher up in the union organization.{{cite news |url=http://work.chron.com/union-national-representative-jobs-23408.html |title=Union National Representative Jobs |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |accessdate=January 7, 2016}}

The title is common in labor organizations in the United States and Canada, uncommon elsewhere.