This year, labor unions got a reprieve: The Supreme Court deadlocked in a much-anticipated case that could have turned almost every state into Wisconsin, where partisan interests have crippled union power. The case, "Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association," addressed a previous case, "Abood v. Detroit Board of…

Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) is a local labor-management initiative designed to improve teacher quality. In PAR, expert "consulting teachers" mentor, support, and evaluate novice and underperforming veteran teachers. Evaluations under PAR can lead to dismissals. The authors examine the costs and benefits of PAR, both financial and…

In the last thirty-five years, higher education has become one of the most heavily unionized sectors in the United States, exceeded only by shipping, select heavy manufacturing, communication, and professional sports. Unionization in traditional blue-collar industries has declined, which is why industrial unions like the United Auto Workers (UAW)…

This paper develops the rationale for the utilization of a special board of inquiry in complex labor-management disputes when collective bargaining breaks down. (Author)

In the US, graduate assistants are an integral part of a university's educational and operational climate. Graduate assistants provide teaching, research or administrative services to the educational enterprise in exchange for professional experience and a financial stipend. Recent strikes of graduate teaching assistants at New York University…

To be used with college students, this guide contains a reading selection on collective bargaining, discussion questions, and suggestions for class activities. The reading section examines the history of collective bargaining and discusses the philosophy governing labor relations in New York state. Discussion questions follow the reading.…

Teacher union leaders face an apparent paradox between dual interests--teachers' educational interests and self-interests. This case study of a small New York school district demonstrates how union members and leaders constructed the dualities differently and how these constructions influenced their behavior. The paradox-construction perspective…

Interviews with persons responsible for interpreting and transmitting labor relations policy to negotiators at the local school district level in New York revealed considerable consistency in the ways the relevant laws, regulations, and legal opinions were assessed and used. Policy interpreters turned first to documents and then to consultants…

This study investigated whether the use of the impasse procedures established by New York's Taylor Law affected the level of teacher salaries in New York public school districts between 1968 and 1972. Data for the study were gathered from all 693 New York public school districts (except New York City) that were involved in collective bargaining…

Surveyed school administrators and teacher union leaders in order to evaluate the success of the labor management committees in New York school districts. A total of 48 surveys were sent, and responses were received from 17 teacher union representatives and 16 administrator representatives. (MLF)

Explores both the practical and legal obstacles facing school-based management, with an emphasis on legal requirements in the state of New York. Suggests that school-based management may be the precursor to a reevaluation of the legal structure of school management labor relations. (MLF)

Discusses economic and legal issues related to declining public school enrollments and pressures for "reduction in force" (RIF) of teachers. Reviews developments involving RIF cases in New Jersey and Yonkers, New York. Recommends school boards not agree to contracts that limit their ability to lay off personnel for economic reasons. (JG)

The discussion in this report focuses on the state-level structures and processes for the administration of teacher bargaining in four very different states: New York, Minnesota, California, and Kansas. Sections on each state are based on interviews with personnel in state labor relations agencies or boards. Each state's structure is described and…

This booklet gives general information on the provisions of the laws relating to the work force of New York State. Presented in a question-and-answer format, the booklet provides information on the following laws: minimum wages, prevailing wage rate, payment of wages, hours of work--meal periods, employment of minors, industrial homework,…

Provides a fascinating look at the ideological and cultural schisms that developed between the communist party and local trade unions in Schenectady, New York. By the 1950s trade unions had become more conservative while the communist party championed the rights of women and blacks. This split debilitated the communist party. (MJP)