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Labor Relations Role-Play:
Happy Valley Consolidated School District/AFTEA Labor-Management Committee Meeting
$0.00 – $6.00
Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Dale Bricker and Lawrence Poe
Two-team, six-issue negotiation between three teachers' union representatives and three school district representatives over a meeting agenda and a proposed wellness program, among other issues
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SCENARIO:
The monthly labor-management committee meetings between the Happy Valley Consolidated School District and the American Federated Teachers Education Association (AFTEA) was created over a year ago during the collective bargaining session. Recently, both the labor and management went through a training session where they discussed new ways to run meetings. There is still a great deal of apprehension within the group as to whether these committee meetings are worthwhile. The next monthly meeting will discuss the issues of a "Wellness" program, dress codes, asbestos in the High School Roof, and the public image of the schools.
MAJOR LESSONS:
There are often legitimate differences within the bargaining teams. These internal conflicts ought to be worked out before serious bargaining begins. This exercise creates opportunities for participants to practice techniques of managing internal team conflict.
The role play provides a vehicle for exploring behaviors appropriate to the effective operations of a labor-management committee.
This exercise allows the players to explore the on-going relationship between two groups that have been adversaries, and raises questions of relationship and reputation. All sides have important long-term interests.
Happy Valley Consolidated School District/AFTEA Labor-Management Committee Meeting Attributes
Prof. Susskind’s Top 5 Environmental Negotiation Teaching Materials
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