Product Description

The seventh edition of this best-selling book continues to provide readers with a realistic picture of actual collective bargaining and labor relations situations drawn from the authors' considerable experiences. Sections of actual labor agreements as well as arbitration cases and decisions of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the courts illustrate and emphasize contemporary issues of collective bargaining and labor relations. Experts in the fields of labor law and arbitration have contributed “tips” on how the concepts in the book can actually be applied. In addition to covering history and law, workplace challenges, the collective bargaining process, and labor contracts, major features of this new edition include expanded coverage of public sector labor relations, international collective bargaining issues, union organizing and avoidance strategies, and collective bargaining in professional sports. Because of its comprehensive coverage and excellent resource material, this book is an excellent reference for human resource directors, labor relations directors, personnel directors, and labor negotiators.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #635071 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 672 pages

From the Publisher
Here is a distinctively up-to-date introduction to labor relations and collective bargaining--containing separate chapters on benefits, wage issues, discrimination laws, and international labor relations. The text includes new discussion of diversity in the workplace, total quality management, and robotics, work teams, and collective bargaining in sports.

From the Back Cover
The seventh edition of this best-selling book continues to provide readers with a realistic picture of actual collective bargaining and labor relations situations drawn from the authors' considerable experiences. Sections of actual labor agreements as well as arbitration cases and decisions of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the courts illustrate and emphasize contemporary issues of collective bargaining and labor relations. Experts in the fields of labor law and arbitration have contributed “tips” on how the concepts in the book can actually be applied. In addition to covering history and law, workplace challenges, the collective bargaining process, and labor contracts, major features of this new edition include expanded coverage of public sector labor relations, international collective bargaining issues, union organizing and avoidance strategies, and collective bargaining in professional sports. Because of its comprehensive coverage and excellent resource material, this book is an excellent reference for human resource directors, labor relations directors, personnel directors, and labor negotiators.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The changing relationships in the workplace have taken their toll on the traditional collective bargaining and labor relations processes. Although the nation's laws still protect collective bargaining as a way to promote commerce, the realities of a changing economy, a decrease in union membership, an increase in government regulations, and a diverse workforce have complicated labor relations.

Drawing on over 50 years of experience in negotiating, labor law, and teaching, we have developed a text for readers who need a practical working knowledge of labor relations and collective bargaining terms, practices, and law. This text introduces students to collective bargaining and labor relations with an emphasis on the "real world" situations they will face on the job. Sections of actual labor agreements as well as arbitration cases and decisions of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the courts illustrate and emphasize contemporary issues of collective bargaining and labor relations. In addition, experts in the fields of labor law and arbitration have contributed "tips" on how the concepts learned can actually be applied. In this edition, we have integrated and expanded the coverage on both public sector labor relations and international collective bargaining issues.

This text begins with a treatment of the historical and legal basis for labor relations and collective bargaining in the United States. The labor history section adds to the student's understanding of the collective bargaining process in the United States by profiling both the people and the events that shaped this process. In addition, the student is exposed to the economic realities in the past, present, and future that have and will affect the workplace. Changes in the application of labor laws due to court decisions, NLRB rulings, and changes in the environment of union and management relations are covered throughout the text and include the latest decisions and rulings as well as analysis of what these changes might mean in the workplace. The text also includes ways of estimating wage and benefit items and computerized costing methods. It describes negotiating techniques and covers items in depth, giving students direct exposure to how negotiating theory is applied in actual situations. There are detailed explanations of contract enforcement, grievance, and arbitration procedures.

This seventh edition contains several new features and significantly revised sections, including the following:

• Arbitration cases that allow students to play the role of arbitrator
• "Develop Your Own Negotiating Skills" exercises
• Union organizing and avoidance strategies
• Interest-based bargaining
• Employee misconduct
• "TIPS" and "FORE"—what managers can and cannot say in organizational campaigns
• 32 new cases and case studies
• Collective bargaining in professional sports
• Simulation to accompany the text
• Photographs of significant labor leaders and events

PEDAGOGICAL FORMAT

A student-oriented chapter format was designed to integrate theory with the "bread and butter" issues at the core of most actual negotiations. This integration, which includes the following material, provides a sense of how issues in the real world are resolved:

• Labor News. These chapter-opening articles summarize current labor relations activities. The purpose of the articles is to help students relate current events to the day-to-day labor practices discussed in the chapter.
• Chapter Cases. Several short cases, which include the decisions of the arbitrator or judge, illustrate those points discussed within each chapter while bridging the gap between theory and practice.
• Tips from the Experts. In Chapters 3 to 8, labor relations professionals answer questions about the collective bargaining process and point out pitfalls for employers and employees involved in the labor relations field. In Chapters 9 to 11, a labor arbitrator gives tips on how employers and employees can avoid labor disputes.
• Labor Profiles. In several chapters, a number of profiles of labor leaders or of innovations in the labor relations process help the student understand the concepts in the chapter and the history of labor relations in the United States.
• Public Sector. In each chapter, there are one or more sections that compare and contrast labor relations and collective bargaining in the public sector. Unionization in the public sector is increasing, and students need to understand how unionization here differs from that in the private sector.
• Labor Relations Around the World. At the end of each chapter, an aspect of international labor relations and/or collective bargaining is discussed. The students can again compare and contrast how workers and management approach these common issues in different ways around the world.

Chapter-end materials include the following:

• "You Be the Arbitrator." An exciting new feature in this edition is the "real world" arbitration case at the end of each chapter. Students assume the role of arbitrator and are presented with the facts, relevant provisions of a labor agreement, and positions of the union and management. Then they are asked to decide an award and opinion, cite the most relevant facts, and decide what actions the employer and/or union might have taken to avoid the conflict.
• Case Studies. Case studies help students understand both sides of the issues. The case studies describe the facts and lawsuits, but actual decisions are not provided. These cases are taken from court and NLRB decisions and allow students to play the role of the arbitrator or judge in deciding cases.
• Key Terms and Concepts. A list of the important terms and concepts discussed in the chapter, including much of the vocabulary unique to labor relations, is provided. The student should be able to recognize, define, and discuss the terms after completing the chapter. Key terms appear in boldface and are defined in context.
• Review Questions. Straightforward questions focus on the major areas covered. If the review questions present any difficulty, the student should reread the appropriate material.
• Experiential Exercises. Two exercises are included at the end of each chapter: one for individual work and one as a group activity. The exercises require students to apply what they have learned from the chapter to practical and realistic situations. Many of the exercises require that students go outside the classroom and visit work sites and/or contact union and management representatives in the community for information.
• Glossary. At the end of the book is a glossary of all key terms which appear in bold print in the chapters.
• Texts of Major Labor Legislation. The text of the National Labor Relations Act and the Labor-Management Relations Act, as amended, is included at the end of this book to provide a ready reference to these important documents.

COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE

This text treats comprehensively the environment of labor relations, the activity of collective bargaining, and the need for administrating an agreement after it has been signed. The text also explores labor relations issues in the public sector, the impact of diversity in the workplace, and how international labor relations are developing.

Part One traces the development of collective bargaining. Chapter 1 focuses on the roots of the American labor movement and discusses the laws that led to and finally established the collective bargaining process. Chapter 2 takes the student through the development of the workplace and how that development has affected modern labor relations. This chapter explores both the causes and the solutions to the challenges that unions face in representing workers, including the challenges of "Workforce 2000" and diversity of the American workforce.

Part Two examines the collective bargaining process. Chapter 3 discusses provisions of the National Labor Relations Act, how bargaining units are formed and chosen, and the types of units in the workforce. The rights of unions to represent members as well as the obligations of unions to their members are also explored in this chapter. Chapter 4 discusses what conduct is construed as an unfair labor practice. Chapter 5 deals with labor agreements, negotiating techniques, and overcoming an impasse.

Part Three covers the costs of collective bargaining agreements. Chapter 6 deals with wages and the different ways in which wages are negotiated and paid under collective bargaining agreements. Chapter 7 looks at the benefits negotiated in most contracts, from vacations to health care coverage. Chapter 8 presents issues of job security and employee seniority.

Part Four presents the operational processes involved in enforcing collective bargaining agreements. Chapter 9 explores the basic principles of collective bargaining agreements, methods of enforcement, the NLRB and court intervention, grievance and arbitration procedures, and pressure tactics. Chapter 10 defines individual rights under collective bargaining agreements and presents widely used procedures to resolve grievances between employers and employees. Chapter 11 expands on these issues to describe the arbitration process that generally follows an unsuccessful grievance procedure. Chapter 12 explains civil rights and equal pay legislation and their impact on labor agreements. Sections on minorities, women, and other protected classes give the student a comprehensive review of equal opportunity laws as they affect the collective bargaining process.

Instructor's Manual with Test Item File
A comprehensive instructor's manual contains chapter lecture outlines and a student-tested test bank of...

Customer Reviews

Carrell and Heavrin Update The Field
Michael R. Carrell and Christina Heavrin's 6th edition of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining; Cases, Practice , and Law is an excellent contemporary and very readable book. Included are supplementary materials and even important Web sites of the companies and labor organizations featured in the text. Relevant and up-to-date case studies and exercises follow each chapter, enhancing opportunies for group work and practical application. Chapters 10, 11 and 12, which cover implementing the collective bargaining agreement, grievance procedures, and arbitration process are particularly comprehensive and well presented. Included in these chapters are excellent examples of items in a negotiated contract, forms used in the grievance process, and recent arbitration decisions. Each chapter also ends with a list of important terms and concepts and review questions. This book has wide application and use for either an introductory course at the lower division or upper division courses at the Colledge or University level.

Fairly good - Not excellent
I just took a college level class in which we used this book as the textbook. There is a lot of good information inside which provides a good introduction to the novice on how the process of collective bargaining works. It begins with the history of how it started and continues through the specific issues that collective bargaining entails. There is even a copy of the National Labor Relations Act in the back of the book.

There are some rough spots that should be worked out in the next edition however. Sometimes I found myself lost in the verbage that the author chose to use and had no idea what the point had been. The case studies at the ends of the chapters have no solutions, they ask questions of you and then leave you - a novice - to flounder with no professional direction in the event - which is frequent - that you can't figure out the answer. And, there are some typo's in key locations which end up disproving, instead of proving, the point that the author was attempting to make (very confusing.)

This text is best used in conjunction with lectures by a good professor if you want to get the most out of it.

Concise & complete
The authors provide a complete & concise discussion of the process of collective bargaining within a general labor relations context. Many, current cases, tips from experts, and historical references help present the concepts. A solid text for the novice negotiator or interested student.