This course is organized in three distinct parts. Part 1 will explore the historical and legal development of labor arbitration and its relationship to collective bargaining. Part 2 will address common issues including evidence, discipline and discharge, and contract interpretation. Part 3 will consist of three simulated, mock arbitration hearings. In each mock arbitration students will rotate between the roles of union counsel, management counsel, and arbitrator. Counsel will write post-hearing briefs, and arbitrators will write decisions. There is no final exam in this course. Student grades will be based on a combination of class participation (5%), self-evaluations (5%) and the 3 mock arbitrations (25% for the first, 30% for the second, and 35% for the third.) Grades for the mock arbitrations will be based on post-hearing briefs by the advocates and decisions by the arbitrators. This course meets the requirements of a practical skills course and will include a student self-evaluation component to be assigned during the course. There are no required prerequisite courses for the labor arbitration course.
This class is capped at 18.