Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

The length of time required to process a grievance from the first step through the issuance of an arbitrator's award and the cost of arbitration hearings (legal fees, transcript costs, lost working time, arbitrators' fees) have led some critics to claim that we are facing a crisis in dispute settlement. The attitudes of 235 union officials from 19 unions were surveyed to determine whether dissatisfaction with arbitration was widespread. The authors found that 78 percent of the respondents concluded that arbitration was "the best method of resolving unsettled grievances during the life of the labor agreement." A majority, however, expressed concern with procedural delay and noted that they had dropped what they considered to be meritorious grievances because of the cost. Strong sentiment in favor of the strike was expressed by representatives of certain unions, although most were aware that their constituents would not be willing to strike over unresolved grievances.