On October 16, 2017, over 12,000 faculty, librarians, and counsellors in 24 independent postsecondary colleges in Ontario, Canada went on strike for the fourth time since they organized in 1971 as members of the Civil Service Association of Ontario and won their first collective agreement the next year. Begun as an apolitical, self-consciously…

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 many school districts, business managers--not superintendents--are the ones who deal with labor relations, negotiating or participating on the negotiations team. Business managers who oversee the human resources department may find themselves dealing with labor relations on a regular basis. In this article, the author discusses four labor…

Two examples of bluff pressures (as opposed to real pressures) used by mediators to effect contract settlements are presented, along with advice to negotiators on avoiding or minimizing such tactics. (Author/IRT)

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.…

This guide is intended as a brief primer for the employer or employee new to public sector labor relations. A simple step-by-step approach to labor relations includes techniques for analysis of state enabling legislation, union self-perpetuation, scope of bargaining, preparing for and winning bargaining, settling disputes, solving contract…

Examines the inherent differences between the roles of grievance arbitrator, fact-finder, and interest arbitrator and discusses the skills and insights the interest arbitrator needs to fulfill his role. Available from: Commerce Clearing House, Inc., 4025 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60646. (JG)

In 1947 Nebraska established a unique Court of Industrial Relations to resolve disputes between government agencies and public employees. The court's five part-time judges are appointed by the governor to six-year terms, and the court's operating costs are covered in the state budget. Even so, costs to litigants may be higher than necessary. The…

Discusses the nature of labor arbitration; then explores the transferability of the labor arbitration model. Argues that the establishment and legitimation of unions and collective bargaining are responsible for the success of labor arbitration, not vice versa. Available from The Yale Law Journal, 401A Yale Station, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;…

This series of questions and answers on factfinding in public sector labor relations focuses on the practical aspect of impasse resolution. Rather than choosing a theoretical or historical approach, the practical approach was chosen because factfinding is not a formal process that must rigidly conform to textbook rules. Instead, factfinding can be…

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…