The term "exclusive bargaining agent" refers to a labor union that has been designated by employees as their sole representative for collective bargaining purposes. This means that the union is authorized to negotiate on behalf of all workers in a particular bargaining unit, and employers are required to deal with the union alone when it comes to setting wages, benefits, and other workplace conditions. The concept of an exclusive bargaining agent is intended to promote efficiency and fairness in labor relations by ensuring that there is only one representative for all employees in a given job category or location.