Evaluating Strike Alternative Models for Public School Teachers in Southeastern Michigan.

Abstract

The State of Michigan has experienced increasing strike activity by public school teachers in the past five years (1975 through 1980). This has occurred despite laws which make such activity illegal. Due to this strike proscription, impasse procedures have been established and proposed as viable alternatives to public sector strikes. This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of the parties to negotiated teacher contracts toward currently available and proposed impasse resolution mechanisms. Chief teacher negotiators, chief school negotiators, and school board members from districts who experienced strikes in Southeastern Michigan from 1975 through 1979 were surveyed. Findings and Conclusions. It was found that the three groups did differ in their attitudes on some issues: (1) Union representatives perceived that the right to strike was essential to any impasse system. The other groups were opposed to granting teachers the legal right to strike, although these groups recognized that strikes by teachers moderated the positions of the parties and facilitated agreements between the parties. (2) There was strong agreement on the efficacy of mediation; fact finding was infrequently used and neutrally rated. (3) Union representatives were strongly opposed to a guarantee of continuous public service, while the other groups approved of such a guarantee. (4) Board members and management negotiators were strongly opposed to an imposition of resolution by a neutral third party, while the union respondents were largely uncertain of this.(' ) The three groups agreed on the following essential elements for inclusion in an impasse resolution model: moderation of positions by both sides reasoned presentation of positions, assistance of a neutral third party, equalized bargaining power, deliberate process, and culmination in a final agreement. Traits that ought not to be incorporated in such an impasse resolution model are: public intervention and an informal process. It is concluded that it is possible to design and effectuate a viable impasse system. The difficulties of the existing system may be viewed as being due to the lack of experience and knowledge of currently impasse resolution systems.