Union-initiated mid-term bargaining: A catalyst in reshaping conflict patterns

Conclusion

The collective bargaining ecosystem in the federal sector is fairly characterized today as adversarial and legalistic. Historically, it has permitted one party to dominate another on the assumption that this would give the dominating party control. At best, it has encouraged the use of balances of power and compromise as the preferred methods of conflict management.

Mary Parker Follett's analysis of conflict underscores the inefficiency and illogic of this approach. For the federal sector to benefit from the integrative approach that she and many others advocate, it needs to shift its attention to creating shared interests, as well as highlighting the many shortcomings of the current methods of conflict management. The newly recognized right of the union to initiate bargaining during the life of a term agreement should do both. In addition, because the federal sector unions are not limited in their ability or motivation to use the potential of this decision, they are likely to model behavior that could benefit private, state, and local sector unions.