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AN EXPLORATION OF THE NORMATIVE PREMISES RELEVANT TO NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY DISPUTE RESOLUTION (INTEREST ARBITRATION)
Abstract
A key factor in public employee unionization is impasse resolution in contract negotiations. Neutral third party dispute resolution systems are commonly used. Several arguments have been made about the desirability of such systems. However, these arguments are based on a set of underlying normative premises that have not been tested. These premises are: (1) public sector employees have the right to participate in decision making concerning their wages and working conditions; (2) collective bargaining should be used in the public sector to set wages and working conditions for public employees; (3) the services provided by public sector employees are essential for the welfare of the general public; (4) strikes by public employees are not acceptable; (5) allocation of public resources by neutral third parties is acceptable; (6) it is appropriate for negotiators to use the neutral third party dispute resolution process to save face. A survey designed to explore these premises was administered to four interest groups; the general public, public employees, public managers, and state legislators. Hypotheses tested in this research were that people vary in degree of acceptance of each premise, that a significant amount of variance is explained by group membership, and that the degree of acceptance expressed by each interest group follows specific patterns. It was found that for the first five normative premises, people do vary in degree of acceptance and that a significant amount of that variance is explained by group membership. None of the hypothesized patterns of acceptance were supported. Study findings indicate that people accept the premises that public employees should participate in decision making and that collective bargaining is the accepted method of participation. The study also indicates that the services provided by public employees are considered to be essential and that strikes by public employees (with the exception of the opinion of public workers about blue collar personnel) are not acceptable. Findings for the premises concerning authority and responsibility are not conclusive.
Subject Area
Management
Recommended Citation
RUESCHHOFF, MARY SUSAN, "AN EXPLORATION OF THE NORMATIVE PREMISES RELEVANT TO NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY DISPUTE RESOLUTION (INTEREST ARBITRATION)" (1986). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8609809.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8609809