This study investigated the phenomena of strike propensity and strike compliance among teachers in an illegal teachers' strike that occurred in British Columbia, Canada, in 1983. A questionnaire developed for this study was distributed in early 1984 to a random sample of 1,000 teachers from eight school districts; a total of 456 responded. The…

This paper reviews seven specific components of change that labor militancy in public education will have on the American economic system in the future. First, teacher militancy will influence other public employees to become more militant and will pressure private-sector employees to unionize. Second, additional state and federal public-employer…

The lessons of collective bargaining suggest a permanent, political, adversary relationship between teacher associations and school boards. Therefore, administrators must speak for good education, learn well the bargaining skills, and emphasize give and take in bargaining. Teacher associations may be expected to justify their existence, assume…

Teacher unionism, as evidenced by the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a conservative moderating force that seeks to preserve and strengthen the present bureaucratic-professional governance of schools. This paper concerns the policy impact of the UFT. Specifically, it describes the levels of…

Attitudes of principals and assistant principals before, during, and after a teacher strike that occurred in mid-1988 in Louisiana's "A" parish school system are examined in this study. A second focus is on differences between principals and assistant principals in levels of experience and attitudes. Questionnaires mailed to 23…

The fact that public employees do not have particular rights accorded private employees may not be inequity if public employees enjoy benefits not shared by private employees. Public employees' political influence on public sector bargaining is probably the most important difference between the two sectors. Political activity pays the teacher…

The responsibility for education in Australia rests with the states. Teachers in the state of New South Wales, as in other Australian states, are employed by the Public Service Board, which determines working conditions. Teachers are administered, however, under the Department of Education. Labor disputes in Australia are settled not by formal…

A strike by teachers in the David Douglas School District of suburban Portland, Oregon, in 1978 lasted only a week and was unsuccessful in obtaining contract concessions. This document describes how the district's administration, board, building principals, and public relations specialist cooperated as a team to limit the strike's effects. Key…

Individuals who have been on all sides of a teacher strike need positive outlets for winding down; such outlets should be carefully designed by the superintendent of schools. The first group to be considered is the public--both the sympathetic public and the angry public. Another group that must be dealt with are overresponsive strike leaders…

This paper highlights some of the similarities and differences in the labor-management experiences of Boston University (Massachusetts), Temple University (Pennsylvania), the University of Bridgeport (Connecticut), and Yeshiva University (New York) to determine which may represent failures and which do not. In comparing the Yeshiva and Boston…

Whether or not collective bargaining in the public sector becomes a universal practice, work stoppages cannot be considered an acceptable method for resolving contract disputes. Public opposition to strikes by teachers is growing. School districts and teachers must realize that collective bargaining is a process of compromise, and that candor,…

The subject of collective bargaining negotiation impasse procedures in the public sector, which includes public school systems, is a broad one. In this speech, the author introduces the various procedures, explains how they are used, and lists their advantages and disadvantages. Procedures discussed are mediation, fact-finding, arbitration,…

This paper was part of a symposium focusing on collective bargaining as a generic process, and labor relations policy and practice as each affects allocation of resources at various educational organization levels. A set of propositions are developed to show that collective bargaining principles remain the same irrespective of sector, industry, or…

Collective bargaining relationships in school districts are affected by court actions in a variety of ways. Courts have acted as a "surrogate legislature" by providing legal structures where legislation is absent and by modifying legislation through the process of statutory construction. This paper examines the courts' role in structuring…

The ways collective bargaining affects the operation of public schools are identified. Teachers covered by bargaining agreements, compared with teachers not covered, receive higher salaries and teach smaller classes. They also spend slightly less time instructing students but more time preparing for classes. The major difference detected in the…