Labour Relations Team Project: Team-Reflection Management Essay

The Archibald Firefighters' Arbitration Case
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Collective Bargaining is tricky, especially the ones whose decision is hampered by some conflicts of interest. As an arbitrator, I have come across more challenging situations with parties ending up in fistfights, and no conclusions reached. The success of a section is dependent on how intelligent and calculative you are as the middle person. Many underlying factors led to the failure in negotiations between the trade union and the city of Archibald. Since it would be risky for the firefighters to go on strike and for the vital service to stop, we helped the parties come to a viable decision. We admit that it was quite challenging because all the parties held strong positions with the management considering options such as contracting employees so that they do not meet the trade unions' demands. The essay will evaluate the views of all the parties, assumptions made, what each side would do different if given a chance and tactics we used that were both effective or not.
At this stage, when the parties have failed to agree because their stands are stable, our role becomes very difficult. Success can only come around when there is evidence, which is a collective bargaining agreement. As arbitrators, we always were part of the negotiations from processes that have failed, people come to the beginning, and us after long unsuccessful legal battles but it is that we are the final options when several negotiations when there is already bad blood between the parties. In the case of firefighters against the city Archibald, conflict is already underway, and the trade union president decides the arbitration route after other methods have failed. The processes include our role at this late stage was to ensure that the two parties came to an amicable solution, and the firefighters went home with some victory. It is because the city was defiant, and even the trade union president was unsure if they could get something from the collective Bargaining. At this point, it seemed like we were the trade unions only hope.
The firefighters through the trade union were asking for a fifteen per cent increase in pay, Provision for earlier retirement, disability insurance, and many other grievances. The city, on the other hand, held a bargaining position of not being capable of providing this need because they could not afford all the demands. We believed that the bargaining positions did not agree because of underlying factors on both sides that hinder negotiations. The trade union claims were on a high because they have been receiving an increase of 2.5%. They were looking at the conditions of their neighbors and not considering how far their city could reach financially. Trade unions should always look at the benefits of the employees in contrast with the possible gains and losses the economy will incur. While it is true that they have a right to a pay rise and other benefits, moderation is essential, and that is what we helped them accomplish their goals. The city, on the other hand, is not open to any increase, and it is a significant problem in the negotiation. The main factor that hindered the arbitration is the fact that the city is not doing so well and is considering other options to the current firefighters because they know that the citizens will not allow a reduction in fire protection.
The factors that led to the success of the arbitration is the fact that we fully utilized the mayor's conflict of interest where he was worried about reelection and coming up with favourable rules to win more hearts to his side. In recent times unions are mostly affected by plutocracy, where the government what to dominate and use them for their selfish gains (Mann, 1923, p.243-245). As arbitrators, we are always looking for opportunities to increase outcomes, and this seemed like one of those lucky days. The mayor was lenient, although he still wanted to act in the interest of the city where they got something in return. Top on his mind was not giving his political opponents ammunition against him and annoying the citizens. The opponent seemed to advocate for things that might make him lose his seat, and he was under pressure to agree with the union, although not openly. The offer suggested by his right-hand men was six per cent over one year or eight over two. He was, however, hesitant, which led to the decision reached later own thanks to our calculative nature. The mayor's efforts to counter opposition worked to our advantage.
The decision would finally be 6% over two years with an agreement of subjecting the bargaining agreement to reviews after the period elapses. It was not comfortable getting to this percentage from fifteen per cent by the union, but as arbitrators, we made them under...