Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

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There is a consensus that the field of labor arbitration is growing larger and larger and there is an increasing need for new arbitrators to fill the gap in the expanding areas, both in the private and public sectors. The American Arbitration Association published a special pamphlet inviting people to join the panel of arbitrators. Other agencies are similarly looking for new arbitrators or hearing officers. But will the mere increase of panel members solve the problems?

As a newcomer to the ranks of arbitrators, I observed some phenomena, which, in my opinion, are serious and may become dangerous, if continued to be swept under the rug and forgotten. They are: recruitment and utilization of new arbitrators, and the increasing cost of arbitration to parties. Both problems have been discussed in labor relations groups, but so far, little has been done to solve them.