What does 'following the money' refer to in labor negotiations?

'Following the money' in labor negotiations is an important strategy that involves examining financial records to understand where the organization's funds are allocated and how they can support the workers' demands. This tactic can reveal insights into the financial health of the company, helping unions to make informed arguments and negotiate more effectively for wages, benefits, or other workplace improvements. By scrutinizing management’s financial decisions, labor negotiators can identify potential areas for gains for workers and challenge any objections that may arise during negotiations based on financial constraints.

The other options, while related to financial considerations, do not capture the essence of this tactic as directly. Allocating funds for worker bonuses pertains more to post-negotiation agreements, establishing a budget for union activities focuses on organizing rather than negotiation, and promoting transparency in union finances speaks more to accountability within the union than to the negotiation process itself.