When big businesses enter into mandatory arbitration agreements with consumers, the large companies typically tout the fairness while the individual is left feeling cheated. Now that mandatory arbitration clauses are finding their way into more and more contracts signed by school systems, school boards and district administrators are realizing…

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…

The conflict-resolution technique of interpersonal negotiation involves five steps: (1) state your positive intentions; (2) define, analyze, and discuss the problem; (3) summarize progress; (4) explore alternative solutions; and (5) set a time for follow-up. (MLF)

Although school districts can expect an increase in grievances filed by their local unions, new methods of resolution are available including grievance mediation where school and union officials undertake informal discussion to reach a compromise position, and involving principals in the input evaluation of contractual clauses. (MLF)

The author contends that districts should reject binding interest arbitration as a means of resolving an impasse in contract negotiations, charging that it hampers good faith bargaining, adversely affects fiscal and operational management of the school system, and diminishes the governing role of the board of education. (MJL)

Collective bargaining negotiations engender public interest. This article presents a hypothetical scenario in which a city school district has four months to negotiate a new contract before its current teachers' contract expires. Offers examples as to how the district might conduct its negotiations. (LMI)

Defines the use of the terms "grievance,""mediation," and "arbitration"; discusses a typical grievance procedure; and provides a management grievance checklist and an arbitration preparation checklist. (MLF)

Provides a brief overview of the legal structure within which teacher collective bargaining takes place. Explores the following legal issues that are most commonly litigated: right to organize, fair share, scope of bargaining, impasse resolution, strikes, grievance procedures, and judicial review of arbitration awards. (MLF)