Originally from Collective Bargaining: How it Works and Why - 3rd Edition

IN THIS SECTION we examine the interactions across and around the bargaining table.

Three Dimensions to Every Team in Bilateral Negotiations

To the novice, it appears that collective bargaining involves negotiating between two teams—union and management. In fact, however, each team can itself be divided into three components: stabilizers (S), destabilizers (DS) and quasi mediators (QM).

Stabilizers are those team members committed to the table processes and oriented toward reaching agreement, sometimes at any cost. For example, consider Joe Smith, a newly elected member of the school board entering his first collective negotiation with the teachers’ association. To him, the worst situation that could occur would be a strike by the teachers. At the bargaining table and in private school board caucus sessions, he may comment on the need for settlement and advocate acceptance of the teachers’ association position. He fears the negative effects of a strike on the students, teachers, community and educational mission of the school.