This article argues that the model of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in use at the Workers' College in South Africa may be seen as a form of "radical pedagogy." Drawing on documentary sources, focus group interviews with staff, and observations, it describes an educational philosophy which aims to build the competencies of activists…

In a previous article, Gordon A. Gregory and Mark Heinen criticized John M. Caraway's article describing recent successful experiences with the use of mediation in place of arbitration for failing to note the perception of the grievants. A reexamination of the data show that 80 percent of the grievants were satisfied with the mediation procedure.…

Analysis of data from a 1998 telecommunications industry survey indicates that institutional pressures and human resource strategies contribute to adoption of nonunion dispute resolution procedures. Employment rights litigation and court deferral to nonunion arbitration led to an increase in mandatory arbitration procedures. Threat of unionization…

In this analysis of 1,815 arbitration cases in British Columbia in 1982-85, bias is identified in the bivariate estimates of the probability of management wins by industry and issue. Bivariate estimate errors in these cases can result from failure of estimates to adjust for the effects of omitted variables. (TJH)

An analysis of over 1,700 negotiations conducted by 289 Indiana school districts revealed that collective bargaining conversion from voluntary to compulsory mediation and factfinding sharply reduced the length of negotiations but had no effect in reducing the number of severely protracted negotiations. (MLF)

Discusses various elements of industrial relations research: general directions for research; outcomes and effects of bargaining; determination of wages and economic benefits; nonmonetary bargaining; improving labor-management relations; grievance procedures and arbitration; public sector labor-management relations; policy formation and…

This report contains four papers presented at conferences jointly sponsored by trade unionists and members of the academic community. As explained in the introduction by Michael E. Gordon, the papers focus on grievance procedures, examining both recent research on the topic and its implications for organized labor. The following papers are…

During the 17-year history of the North Dakota teachers' bargaining law, local education associations and local school boards have negotiated to an impasse and have requested the assistance of the North Dakota Fact Finding Commission on 142 occasions. The present study is a systematic effort to assess perceptions of teachers' associations and…

Describes the research method and the results of behavior analysis of successful negotiators during actual negotiations between union and management representatives and the behaviors that distinguish the skilled from the average negotiators. (MF)

A study of over 200 Belgian and U.S. labor grievances showed that persistence through several episodes was risky but positively related to satisfaction with outcomes. Focus on formulation of grievances and behavioral analysis provide a model for managing grievances that favorably influences worker beliefs about the organization. (SK)

A program of planned organizational change based on the interventions of a neutral third party used organizational development and dispute resolution techniques to alter the structure and process of academic negotiations. Analysis indicates that the interventions had no impact on campus climate but did significantly imnprove campus bargaining…

Findings of a study that examined the effectiveness of Alaska's Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) on labor relations between school employees and local school districts are presented in this report. Methodology involved: (1) document analysis; (2) interviews with members of professional organizations, district administrators, presidents and…

Arbitration decisions resulting from school district disciplinary actions and professional employee grievances are studied to determine the extent to which school district decisions are upheld by arbitrators, and to identify factors for the support, modification, or contest of a district decision. Data sources are 333 arbitration cases from 27…

An intensive two-phase study of teachers' unions in three small school districts in southern New York State over a 10-year span investigates the changes within the union movement and assesses the impact of unionization on the school systems. The study discloses that teachers' organizations and the collective bargaining process are subject, over…

The most significant change appearing in the collective bargaining area in 1989 was the drop in number of cases compared to recent years. The largest number of cases challenged the specifics of fair share fee level establishment and the processes in place for collection of fees. There were also a significant number of cases surrounding issues of…