Grievance Arbitration

This chapter covers the procedure used to render a decision about the merits of a grievance when the parties cannot reach agreement. Arbitration is not solely a labor relations process, and within labor relations it does not deal solely with grievances. The chapter covers the definition of arbitration, its legal place in labor relations, the process itself, difficulties associated with its practice, and results associated with arbitration of employee discharge and discipline cases.

In reading this chapter, consider the following questions:

1. How have the Supreme Court's decisions influenced the application and practice of arbitration?
2. How has the NLRB aided or interfered with arbitration?
3. What procedures are used during arbitration?
4. What problems do critics of arbitration point out?