Office: STF 908 MW 2:30-4:30

Phone: (323) 343-2938/2930

Email: use the class website

LABOR RELATIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Required Text: The Labor Relations Process, Holley, Jennings & Wolters, 8th Edition.

Required Reading: Joseph Rayback, A History of American Labor, Chapters 14, “The A.F.L.s First Decade,” and 23, “Labor’s New Deal” (available online).

Highly Recommended: Getting to Yes, Fisher & Ury.

This is a short, but valuable guide to successful negotiating.

Class Web Site: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/aa/ess/webct. At this page you can create your WebCT account or log on. Once you have created your WebCT account, you will need to locate the course listing so it can be added to your WebCT account. At the top of the screen, click on Add course. Select the current term and then select, under category, the College of Business and Economics. Once at the College of Business and Economics page, select Econ472tl from the course list. Once at Econ472tl, click on the plus sign to self-register for the course.

You will need internet access and a web browser (preferably Netscape or Firefox).

The web site contains a variety of features, including online quizzes, course syllabus, course notes, etc. You should familiarize yourself with the website as soon as possible.

This course is about labor relations and about collective bargaining. The course focus is on the process of collective bargaining, but the course is also concerned about what constitutes an industrial relations system and why particular rules have been established. There will be some discussion of labor relations systems in other countries and about the future of labor relations in the U.S.

READING ASSIGNMENTS & COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK TOPIC/READING

1	An Overview of Labor Relations, HJW, Chapter 1 (C1). Homework Assignment 1
2	Evolution of the U.S. Industrial Relations System, HJW, C2, Rayback
3	Economic and Legal Environment of Collective
	Bargaining, HJW, C3, Quiz 1. Homework Assignment 2.
	Negotiating Teams are selected.
4	Structure and Institutions of Collective Bargaining
	HJW, Chapters 4 & 5, Quiz 2.
5	At the Bargaining Table, HJW, Chapters 6, 7.
	Fisher and Ury.
6	MIDTERM, followed by: Administering the Agreement &
	Dispute Resolution, HJW, C 8. Homework Assignment 3.
7	Issues Under Collective Bargaining. HJW, C 10, 11, 12. Quiz 3
8	Simulated Bargaining Session/Library Assignment
9	Labor Relations in Other Countries; HJW, C14
10	Holiday, Memorial Day, May 29

There will be a midterm (26%), a final (34%), three homework assignments (9%) and three quizzes (6%). In addition, a contract will be created through simulated bargaining sessions between class teams representing labor and management (25%). A term paper is offered as an option to the bargaining simulation. Grading will be based on a standard scale: 90-100: A; 80-89: B; 60-79, C; 50-59, D, 0-49: F. The midterm, final and homework assignments will largely consist of essay questions. The final is Monday, June 5, 7:30-10:00.