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…

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.…

Massive protests have been the norm in Wisconsin, since Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a plan to strip many collective bargaining rights from teachers and most other public employees. GOP elected officials are pursuing similar measures in Ohio and other states. But in the DeForest district, like some others around the state, collective bargaining,…

In October 2012, Premier Christy Clark announced government would consult with the education partners for the purpose of reviewing teacher bargaining structures and processes with the goal of providing a more stable learning environment for British Columbia students. The review looked for opportunities to achieve two priorities: (1) Create…

In times of limited resources, the likelihood of difficult negotiations between labor and management may increase even in the best of school districts. The negotiation process can range from traditional to positional to competitive to a more collaborative and cooperative interest-based approach. The most productive approach is a matter of debate…

The downside to collaborative bargaining is people's infatuation with the process rather than the outcome. Some school board officials claim that successful collaborative bargaining sessions happen only in wealthier districts. The most effective negotiator/facilitators are professionals found within the school district. Extreme positions could…

Using data from two integrated steel-making sites, variation in the process and outcomes of workplace restructuring was studied. Four union capabilities were critical to success in negotiating with management over workplace restructuring: ability to access information, educate members, communicate with management, and access decision making at…

Intended as a practical guide for negotiators, this manual provides step-by-step directions for techniques useful in the collective bargaining process. The suggestions are based on extensive first-hand experience and field research and apply to labor negotiations in all areas of public service. The manual is divided into nine sections, including…

An analysis of the productivity offsets to achieve second tier wage increases for workers covered by Australian national and Queensland awards shows that the two-tier wage system increased competitiveness and productivity, especially in blue-collar industries. (JOW)

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,…

The crisis in the American economy has provided an opportunity to change traditional bargaining methods and to get the unions involved in taking a serious look at their stake in a healthy economy. (JOW)

Tired of contentious negotiations that hobble school systems with strikes and compromise pacts, school leaders are questioning the traditional adversarial approach to bargaining. As the experiences of Boston and Cincinnati show, principled or collaborative negotiation can turn adversaries into allies. A sidebar outlines joint training requirements…

Negotiations are slated for one-third of workers covered by major agreements. Those scheduled for bargaining are almost evenly split between state and local government and private industry. (Author)

This series of questions and answers on contract administration in public sector labor relations focuses on the practical aspects of both contract administration and grievance handling. Its purpose is to provide information and examples to help practitioners better understand the roles of labor and management while operating under a collective…