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A labor relations research agenda for health care settings

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Abstract

Inadequate attention has been given to labor-management relations in health care organizations. Bacause of the labor-intensive nature of health care and the great dependence on human resources, health services researchers should place greater emphasis on labor-management issues. This article develops a framework and suggests methodologies for examining labor relations in health care organizations. Specifically, six cirtical issues are suggested for attention by researchers: (1) the quality of the union-management relationship; (2) union organizing drives; (3) collective bargaining and contract negotiations; (4) impasse resolution; (5) contract administration and grievance handling; and (6) labor-management cooperation. These areas of research have been dominated by industrial relations researchers who have focused primarily on the manufacturing sector. Given cost containment and competitive pressures, it is timely to bridge the gap between the health services research community and the accumulating body of knowledge in industrial relations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of management, Eastern Michigan University, 48197, Ypsilanti, Michigan

    Gregory E. Huszezo

  2. Department of Health Administration, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Bruce J. Fried

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  1. Gregory E. Huszezo
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  2. Bruce J. Fried
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Huszezo, G.E., Fried, B.J. A labor relations research agenda for health care settings. Employ Respons Rights J 1, 69–84 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01385454

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