Back in the mid-2000s, in public and in the news media, Joseph P. Burke, then superintendent of the Springfield public schools, and Timothy T. Collins, president of the local teachers' union, often seemed to be at odds with each other. Out of the public eye, however, the two men had begun meeting regularly. When Burke left the district, the work…

The further education (FE) sector in England has experienced two decades of marketisation. This article takes as its focus the first five years of incorporation (1993-1998) for one case study college in a city ("Coppleton") in the West Midlands of England, five years that were dominated by a contract dispute. Data from interviews with…

Purpose: This study examined how labor-management relations between school districts and teacher associations seem to affect teacher contract provisions regarding the role of seniority in teacher assignment and how contract provisions and teacher assignment policies seem to affect beginning teachers' perceptions about their work environments.…

In the Fall 2007, there were landmark labor contracts agreed upon between the United Autoworkers (UAW) and the Big Three Automakers--General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler LLC. The impetus for these truly historic labor agreements was to afford the automakers to remain competitive in the global market while labor was to be protected.…

Arlene C. Ackerman, who took the helm of Philadelphia's public schools a little more than a year ago, is pushing for changes that would upend how teachers are paid and assigned to schools. The veteran urban superintendent is battling tradition in the 167,000-student system, but insists that increasing the effectiveness of the city's nearly 10,700…

Effective labor relations training for first-line supervisors should cover the contract, basic labor relations principles, consistent application of discipline, and cost savings concepts. (Author/IRT)

This issue reviews trends in public sector employment (particularly in the light of government policy to reduce it), wages (in a context of cash limits), and strikes and other forms of industrial action. It also considers recent developments in the structure, organization, and policy of the "actors" in public sector industrial relations.…

Research and experience in school labor relations suggest that superintendents can be more effective during contract talks by acting like unbiased education leaders--not tough negotiators. Superintendents can avoid taking adversarial positions by staying off the bargaining team and following suggested guidelines for their role as educator,…

This study examines affective commitment to employing and client organizations among long-term contracted employees, a new and growing employment classification. Drawing on organizational commitment and social exchange literatures, we propose two categories of antecedents of employee commitment to client organizations. We tested our hypotheses…

To familiarize managers with the conditions under which collective bargaining agreements may violate antitrust law, the historical evolution of antitrust law concerning labor-management relations is traced; the managerial implications of the United States Supreme Court's decisions are discussed; and likely future trends are suggested. (Author/MLF)

Informal negotiations over teacher contracts serve to create an atmosphere of trust and to focus settlements on items of major concern. This article gives guidelines established during such a "nonnegotiation" process in Coldwater (Michigan). (Author/WD)

Reviews labor contracts renegotiated during 1988, placing emphasis on labor-management relations. Provides information on negotiations in the following industries: (1) trucking, (2) air transportation, (3) automobile manufacturing, (4) steel and other metals, (5) rubber, (6) bituminous coal, (7) forest products, and (8) shipbuilding. Covers…

Criticizes the concept of superintendents functioning as chief negotiators in collective bargaining processes (it endangers the relationship with teachers, and puts an extra burden on the demanding job of a superintendent). Lists five recommendations for hiring outside negotiators. (MD)

Any legitimate theory of employment rights must be founded on the premise that employment is a voluntary relationship governed by mutual consent; an employment right does not exist apart from contract. Analyzes the legal aspects of public sector employment. (Author/MLF)

Interest-bargaining involves focusing on the issues, segregating each issue, and assigning interests by each side to these issues until a mutually satisfactory option is reached. Cites effectiveness of interest-bargaining in 60 California school districts and an endorsement from the New York State School of industrial and Labor Relations at…