Pennsylvania's Act 195, the Public Employee Relations Act, went into effect in October 1970. The Act, a piece of model legislation in the area of collective negotiations, provides for the right of employees to organize and to be represented by an exclusive bargaining agent; provides for mediation, fact-finding, and arbitration services; and takes…

Argues that administrators must be able to cope (with strikes) in a manner that least compromises the instructional program for students. (Author)

The role of a relatively new position, fact finder, is catching on as an effective method for solving teacher contract disputes. (MF)

Reprints of the five-part series, Bargaining for Beginners, are available from Reprint Dept., The American School Board Journal, 1233 Central St., Evanston, Ill. 60201 (

Findings from a study of the relationship between penalties for teacher strikes and strike deterrence demonstrate that mild and harsh penalties provide less deterrence than moderate ones. The optimal penalty for avoiding strikes was found to be the forfeiture of two days pay for each day on strike. (Author/WD)

Outlines what board members should and should not do during a strike in order to smooth the transition back to normal after the strike. (IRT)

By resisting laws that would legalize teacher strikes, state legislatures and local school districts probably have contributed to the excessive time devoted to bargaining and consequently have helped bring on themselves many of the ills that protracted bargaining invites. (Author/IRT)

During a 1990 Temple University faculty strike, three types of militancy (voting to strike, voting to defy injunction, picketing) had different determinants; for example, social support and union commitment related to riskier types. Other variables related to militancy included attitudes toward job, union, and militancy. (SK)

Recounts the experiences of two substitute teachers who crossed a picket line during a teacher strike in a school district of a small western town. Considers the long-term effects and outcomes of teacher strikes. Questions the feasibility of teacher strikes. (HB)

Recounts what it is like to be a school board member during a teacher strike. (IRT)

The impact of the 8-day walkout of the New Jersey Teachers against the state college system remains obscure, however certain facts have emerged: (1) Traditional governance structures are rendered impotent by a major faculty strike. (2) Students can be expected to play an active if unpredictable role. (PG)

THE AUTHOR STATES THAT GROWING DEMANDS BY ORGANIZED TEACHERS FOR NEGOTIATION CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND POLICY FORMULATION HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT SUCH BARGAINING THROUGH PROCEDURES WHICH DO NOT INTERRUPT ORDERLY SCHOOL OPERATION. TRADITIONAL LEGAL AUTHORITY OF LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO MAKE UNILATERAL POLICY…

We have just completed the most successful year in American Federation of Teachers (AFT) history with 20 percent increase in membership and progress in many areas. The year's most significant developments are these: 1) AFT, through participation in the Full Funding Committee coalition, succeeded in winning bigger appropriations for federal aid…