ECON 672: Collective Bargaining

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Credit Hours: (3)

Semester offered: Fall or Spring

This course explores nature of collective bargaining in the United States and deals with the process of negotiating agreements. Emphasis is on practical decision making in solving problems under the collective bargaining contract. It will employ considerable case material in labor law and arbitration.

Detailed Description or Content of the Course

Students will examine collective bargaining in the United States. The course will focus on management-labor problems and accepted methods of dealing with them. Students will examine case materials in labor law and labor arbitration.

Topic Outline

1. Organized Labor and the Management Community: An Overview
2. The Environmental Framework
3. Collective Bargaining
4. Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector

Detailed Description or Conduct of the Course

The following teaching strategies will be employed:

Lectures and discussions. Students will be required to write a research paper.

Goals and Objectives of the Course

1. Discuss an overview of organized labor and the management community.
2. Discuss the historical, legal, and environmental framework of collective bargaining.
3. Explore union behavior, structure, and government.
4. Explain collective bargaining at the bargaining table.
5. Review administration of the agreement (grievance procedure and arbitration).
6. Explain the wage issue under collective bargaining. Discuss the determination of the basic wage rate, cost of living, overtime, and job evaluation.
7. Discuss economic supplements under collective bargaining. Review pension plans, vacations, insurance, and supplemental unemployment benefits.
8. Explore institutional issues under collective bargaining. Examine union security, union obligations, and management prerogatives.
9. Review administration issues under collective bargaining. Explain seniority, discharge and discipline, safety, and automation.
10. Explore collective bargaining in the public sector. Place emphasis on survey of developments in the public sector, special problems surrounding the public sector, and negotiable issues in the public sector

Assessment Measures

• Test I 100 Points
• Test II 100 Points
• Final Exam 100 Points
• Research Paper 100 Points

Other Course Information

Review and Approval

Date Action Reviewed by
March 1999 Revised