Introduction to Lesson 3

After the negotiations have ended and the contract is signed, both labor and management still have work to do. Traditionally, PEF members wait for their newly negotiated benefits to take effect and management hastens to "get the word out" about any changes or additions to the contract provisions. But there are other issues that present themselves along the way–issues of interpretation and enforcement.

This lesson explores some of the ways to resolve contract disputes. For example, the grievance and arbitration article is an important topic, since this is where most of the language is found concerning contract disputes. That is not to say that settlements and agreements cannot be reached without filing a grievance. In fact, when the Labor/Management relationship is good, a high percentage of disputes never reach the formal stages of the grievance procedure.