Category Archives: Bargaining Tactics

WHAT IS SURFACE BARGAINING? It is an illegal form of bargaining.  It is used to delay bargaining progress.  It can be very costly to a union. It makes the union look powerless in front of its members. What follows is … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Law, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

A NEW GROUND RULE CONTROVERSY  Given the Trump Panel’s vicious attack on unions, it is no surprise that unions are working hard to reduce the Panel’s power.  One way to do that is to block an arguably illegal Panel final … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Proposals, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

A NEGOTIATOR’S CASE STUDY Just passing along a tip to other lifetime union negotiators.  Check out “Will There Be a 2020 Season” from yahoo.com. It tells an interesting tale of how the professional baseball players have boxed in the owners … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

IS ROCKET BARGAINING LEGAL? One of the two parties involved in negotiating a term agreement is usually far more eager to get the deal done ASAP than the other one.  When the FSIP is loaded with anti-union political operatives, rather … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS HOG TIE AGENCY GROUND RULE NEGOTIATORS Traditionally, there are four things agencies want from unions when bargaining ground rules for reopening a term agreement. This is particularly true during times when the FSIP is heavily biased against … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Law, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

MAKING NEW PROPOSALS AFTER BARGAINING BEGINS There is a little-known court case that authorizes union negotiators to make totally new proposals in the middle of negotiations.

Posted in Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

THE “GET OUT OF FSIP FREE” CARD      FSIP is the center of the known labor relations universe these days.  Agency negotiators are busting vital organs trying to rush negotiation disputes there because they know the fix is in.  Unions, on … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Impasse, Bargaining Law, Bargaining Tactics, FSIP | Tagged | 1 Comment

WITH FLRA ENCOURAGEMENT AGENCY SHOOTS ITSELF IN FOOT DURING BARGAINING After a long winter’s nap during which it did not issue a decision for two months, the FLRA ALJ shop has rejoined active society with a decision that exposes a … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Law, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

HOW TO REACH TERM AGREEMENT QUICKLY The single most pernicious, if not malignant, aspect of the American collective bargaining process is the ability of one party to drag out bargaining to drive up the other party’s costs and pain. Why? … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment

A NEGOTIATOR’S WAKE UP CALL Every once in a while a case comes along that is just loaded with teaching moments for both sides and the Authority’s newest decision is one of them for negotiators on either side of the … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Law, Bargaining Tactics | Tagged | Leave a comment