Mgmt 583 Chapter 14: Contract Administration Fall 2008

Contract Administration  Contract Administration Contains provisions for handling grievances (how disagreements over the contract’s interpretation will be resolved). Establishes procedures for filing a grievance.  Time frames  Points of contact  Requirements for formalization

Contract Administration  Contract Administration May establish procedures for taking issues to rights arbitration.  Which issues may be grieved.  Limitations on the arbitrator’s powers.  Who pays for the arbitration.

Grievances  Grievance - any violation of the the collective bargaining agreement. Interpretation of the CBA. Unilateral modification of the CBA. Refusal to abide by its provisions

Grievances  Sources of Grievances Discipline18% Pay17% Working Conditions16% Job Assignments16%

Typical Grievance Process First Step Employee Through the Shop Steward Discuss GrievanceSupervisor Resolved Unresolved Reduced to writing and answered by Mgmt in 5 days Appeal in 5 days of Receipt

Typical Grievance Process Second Step Union Grievance Committee Discuss GrievanceIR Rep. Resolved Unresolved Management answers in 5 days Appeal in 5 days of Receipt

Typical Grievance Process Third Step Union Grievance Committee Discuss Grievance Plant Manager Resolved Unresolved Management answers in 10 days Appeal within 30 days of Receipt

Typical Grievance Process Fourth Step Rights Arbitration Final & Binding Decision

Grievances  Three Methods of Resolving Grievances: Arbitration Strikes Mediation

Grievances  Unions duty to fair representation on grievances. Miranda Fuel Co. (51 LRRM 1584 (1962)) the employee’s right to engage in collective bargaining includes the right to be represented by the exclusive bargaining representative. The union must represent all members of the BU fairly.

Grievances  Unions duty to fair representation on grievances. Ford Motor Co. v. Huffman (345 U.S. 330 (1953)) the union is obligated to process all meritorious grievances without discrimination or else it violates §§ 8 (b)(1)(A) and 8(b)(2).  If the facts are clear and show a breach of the CBA, the union cannot ignore the member’s rights.

Grievances  Unions duty to fair representation on grievances.  If the facts are unclear the union has a wide range of reasonableness in resolving the ambiguity.  In performing the mechanical functions of processing the grievance, the union is held to a standard of at least ordinary care.

Rights Arbitration  History Executive Order 9017 provided for rights arbitration during WWII.  Purpose was to reduce interruptions in war time production.  Without arbitration, only mediation, strikes, and lockouts could resolve grievances. Textile Workers Union v. Lincoln Mills (353 U.S. 448 (1957)) Supreme Court rules that arbitration awards are enforceable.

Rights Arbitration  Arbitration - a quasi-judicial process in which parties agree to submit an unresolved dispute to neutral third-party binding settlement. Rights Arbitration - arises over interpretation of the CBA’s meaning or entitlement to its provisions (post CBA ratification). Interest Arbitration - during CBA negotiations.