Human Resource Management in Public Service Paradoxes, Processes, and Problems- CHAPTER 12 "Collective Bargaining: Structures, Strategies, and Skills"

Wally Cox has been given a new assignment by the mayor to serve as the chief negotiator for the city government in the upcoming collective bargaining contract discussions. In reviewing the recent history of union-management negotiations, he notices some unethical behaviors taken by his counterpart on the union side in negotiations. While adversarial bargaining is typical in many settings, Wally hopes he can minimize the extreme behavior witnessed in past bargaining sessions. Specifically, Wally cites the following instances of unethical behavior: Deliberately misrepresenting the position of management in an attempt to win agreementDistorting the facts in an employee grievance case to gain bargaining leverageUsing tactics to force management to compromise on compelling needsDisplaying ineptitude when resisting an agreement due to insufficient understanding or unwillingness to engage in problem solvingMaking ambiguous demands for the purpose of polarizing managements position He has noticed that the management side has reacted in kind, referring to upcoming negotiations as a war, with meetings described as tactical battles. Management now looks to protect its prerogatives as a primary champion of the organizational good, considering the union to be largely self-serving and unhelpful. Meetings now only occur over grievance cases and in the collective bargaining cycle which occurs at the end of the contract period. While adversarial bargaining is typical in many settings, Wally hopes he can work toward breaking this self-perpetuating and dysfunctional cycle.

Discuss how Wally might improve both the technical aspects of this situation as well as the vitriolic culture.

2. What might he do to set up better ground rules with the union, and encourage them to take a higher road and be more selective and qualitative in their wins?

3. How typical do you think that this type of negative cycle is in organizations with labor unions? Why?