1. Do the new collective bargaining rules for federal public service unions introduced by the federal government represent an abuse of government power? Why or why not?

2. Have any negotiation or communication errors been made by the government or by the unions in relation to federal sick leave reform? If yes, what are they?

This case revolves around proposed changes to the federal public service employees’ sick leave. Issues here consider emotional nature of conflict, power and politics. The federal government rather than the federal unions has been given the power to decide whether individual disputes are solved by arbitration or conciliation. The unions are concerned that the government can force them into conciliation and a possible strike even if their members would prefer arbitration. The new rules for collective bargaining have decreased the power of unions. The government has also placed limits on the factors that arbitrators and conciliation boards can consider when they provide decisions on disputes. These limits seem to favour the federal government.