(Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining)DQ

Labor contract negotiations fail when unions and management cannot reach agreement. When this occurs, both sides may choose to engage in impasse resolution procedures or exert economic pressure on the other party to achieve a resolution. How labor and management choose to resolve their impasse has an impact not only on both parties, but also on how outsiders perceive the opposing sides. Share your thoughts about the various tactics and strategies employed by labor and management to reach agreement by participating in this week’s class discussion.

Please respond to all of the following prompts in the class discussion section of your online course and discuss the following:

If one bargaining party made one last compromise proposal prior to a threatened strike or lockout deadline, would you be more likely to interpret such an offer as a sign of the proposing party’s weakness or an honest intent to reach a reasonable settlement?

How might your interpretation affect your response to the bargaining proposal?

Do you consider strikes an essential element of the collective bargaining process? Explain your reasoning.