NCJ Number
102678
Journal
Labor Law Journal Volume: 37 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1986) Pages: 524-528
Date Published
1986
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article identifies a three-tier process of collective bargaining that has emerged within the last 5 years, notably in Northeast Michigan, and suggests ways for mediators to move collective bargaining to constructive bargaining tiers or subtiers.
Abstract
The three-tier process consists of tier 1, nonproductive bargaining; tier 2, target specific bargaining; and tier 3, old style bargaining. Nonproductive bargaining, which is reflected in approximately 80 percent of the collective bargaining in Northeast Michigan, is composed of the following subtiers: total process destruction, high levels of internal problems for unions and managements, and increased employee involvement. Target specific bargaining, which involves approximately 15 percent of union-management negotiations in Northeast Michigan, targets specific problems, is only marginally adversarial, and is mutually productive for union and management. The old style bargaining, which involves only approximately .05 percent of collective bargaining in Northeast Michigan, involves an adversarial relationship, limited sharing of information, go-ahead contracts, and limited productive strike action by unions. As a tier model emerges in each bargaining situation, the mediator must guide the nonproductive bargaining model and old style bargaining toward target specific bargaining, which is more likely to be productive. 7 footnotes.