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…

Fact finding, mediation, and arbitration are three methods of resolving impasses in collective bargaining. All three methods imvolve the inclusion of a third party in the bargaining process. The mediator suggests avenues along which agreement may be sought, but has no power to compel acceptance of his suggestions. Fact finders have greater power…

Provides a procedure for resolution of agreement impasses that attempts to make collective bargaining the important ingredient of the industrial relations pattern in the public sector. Includes an analysis of and a rationale for each step in the procedure. (Author/IRT)

Examines the issue of "impartiality" in arbitration. The Minnesota experience regarding the growth of arbitration in both grievance administration and contract negotiations is described. The utility of a raw "win/loss" criterion is questioned. The conditions for impartiality in arbitration and the outlook for same are…

Results of a simulated collective bargaining game showed that participants anticipating voluntary arbitration set higher goals and made more demanding opening bids than did participants anticipating other types of third-party intervention. (Available from the American Psychological Association, Inc., 1200 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC…

This article examines conflict resolution through environmental mediation. Using several case studies the author defines and outlines the various approaches taken in resolving conflicts over environmental issues. It was concluded that some environmental disputes can be solved more satisfactorily and more quickly by using negotiation and mediation.…

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…

Available from: Sage Publications, Inc., 275 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90212. (JG)

Discusses common problems involved in collective bargaining for public employees and recommends a number of changes in public employee labor relations laws that can help resolve those problems. Available from: Commerce Clearing House, Inc., 4025 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60646; single copy, $3.00. (JG)

A review of the emergence of the neutral function in the context of collective bargaining to determine whether it might have application to higher education impasses of the l980s is outlined. A history of mediation and arbitration in labor disputes in the United States is provided. (MLW)

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)

The purpose of both factfinding to settle a negotiations impasse and arbitration to settle a grievance is to present the evidence necessary to resolve the conflict between union and management. The author of this paper, himself a factfinder and arbitrator, lists tactics and practices that impede the efficient collection of evidence in factfinding.…

This report is comprised of a series of articles that discuss two areas of dispute settlement -- negotiation impasses and representation and unit determination problems. Arvid Anderson concentrates on the growing utilization of compulsory binding arbitration and reviews its present use. Harold Davey discusses the principles of effective conflict…