TIMED MEDIATION- THE 48- HOUR NEGOTIATIONS SOLUTION

WHAT IS TIMED MEDIATION?  COLLECTIVE BARGAINING  ISSUES ORIENTED  JOINT PROBLEM SOLVING  MEDIATOR OVERSIGHT  SELF-IMPOSED 48-HOUR DEADLINE

HAS IT WORKED?  January of 14 were successful  December of 27 were successful

THE PLAYERS  SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS  UNION MEMBERS  PA BUREAU OF MEDIATION MEDIATORS  CHIEF NEGOTIATORS  ADMINISTRATORS

WHY TIMED MEDIATION? Timed Mediation can greatly reduce the time required to negotiate. Negotiations are time-limited and therefore very much to the point. Time spent posturing is eliminated. Mediators keep the process on track. All the players are present. Relationships have typically improved.

THE PROCESS FIRST MEDIATOR VISIT INVITE THE MEDIATORS TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS BOARD/UNION DECISION TO GO THE NEXT STEP PREPARATION OF ISSUES LIST SECOND MEDIATOR VISIT PRESENT ISSUES TO OTHER PARTY BOARD/UNION DECISION TO GO TO TM SET DATE AND SITE

PREPARE FOR NEGOTIATIONS Business manager/Superintendent Executive sessions- share info/strategize TRAVEL TO SITE (EARLY EVENING) HORS D’HOEURVES-ALL PARTICIPANTS DINNER (Seating arrangement) BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS Mediator chooses order of issues Discussion/Caucus/Agreement/Commit to writing/Sign CONTINUE WITH EACH ISSUE THE PROCESS

ADJOURN FROM THE SESSION/JOINT SNACKS SLEEP AT MOTEL JOINT BREAKFAST RECONVENE NEGOTIATIONS SUSPEND FOR MEALS TOUGH ISSUES- CAUCUS FOR MEDIATOR-SELECTED MEMBERS ONLY ADJOURN FOR SECOND NIGHT/SNACKS SAME AS PREVIOUS DAY END NEGOTIATIONS AFTER 48-HOURS

THEN WHAT? IF SUCCESSFUL- REJOICE, YOU’RE DONE IF UNSUCCESSFUL- ALL BETS ARE OFF. START TRADITIONAL NEGOTIATIONS

PRO’s & CON’s PRO’S LIMITED ISSUES LIMITED TIMEFRAME ACCENTUATES NEGOTIATION/ELIMINATES POSTURING EVERYONE TALKS (vs. Chief negotiator only) INFORMAL MEDIATORS KEEP THE PROCESS ON TRACK IMPROVED RELATIONS THROUGH GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES & TIME SPENT NOTHING LOST BY TRYING

PRO’s & CON’s CON’S PREPARATION TIME IS LIMITED PRESSURE ON BUSINESS MANAGER/SUPERINTENDENT NOT RECOMMENDED IF THERE IS NO GIVE ON ONE OR MORE ISSUES (A lot of eating in one weekend-Pro or Con?)

WELLSBORO’S EXPERIENCE

TIME TABLE JANUARY TH - BOARD STRATEGY MEETING WITH CHIEF NEGOTIATOR 30 TH - MEDIATORS PRESENTED TIMED MEDIATION TO BOARD/UNION- Each party decided to consider TM FEBRUARY 6 TH - BOARD/ADMIN DEVELOPED ISSUES LIST 7 TH - JOINT MEETING W/ MEDIATORS Exchanged lists of issues Decided to accept/reject TM Set TM weekend date and sight 23 RD, 6 PM-25 TH- 4PM- TIMED MEDIATION

THE ISSUES BOARD 8 ISSUES TEACHERS 12 ISSUES

THE NEGOTIATIONS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN TRADITIONAL MORE PLAYERS GIVING INPUT MORE PERSPECTIVES RESULTED GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER’S POSITION NO POSTURING MEDIATOR ASSISTED REASONABLY FAST PROGRESS CHEERING AFTER EACH ISSUE PUT TO REST SOME ISSUES WERE DROPPED

THE NEGOTIATIONS EVENTUALLY THE TOUGH ISSUES CAME ON THE TABLE MORE AND EXTENDED CAUCUSING SPECIAL CAUCUSING SOME FRUSTRATION MOVEMENT OCCURRED ALL ISSUES SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED (IN 44 HOURS) Participants hugged and rejoiced

SHOULD MY DISTRICT TRY T.M. RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST WILLINGNESS TO LIMIT THE ISSUES SOME DISTRICTS WITH A HISTORY OF HEATED NEGOTIATIONS HAVE SUCCEEDED

WOULD WELLSBORO DO IT AGAIN? YES The time savings were worth it (despite the pressured preparations) Greater trust was established Greater understanding resulted Elimination of both posturing and reliance on a chief spokesman tremendously improved the process and was refreshing

WHO TO CONTACT: Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation Department of Labor & Industry (717)