st concluded a lockout situation at the beginning of 1999. Given the millions of dollars involved to the owners, the players, the networks which broadcast the games (from advertising revenues), this topic has considerable importance (Bernstein, 1998, p. 44). At the same time, cities throughout the country are "wooing" sports teams in order to encourage teams to locate in a particular place because of the ancillary benefits to businesses in those cities (restaurants and bars in particular benefit from professional sports). With the large economic impact that professional sports has on local, regional and even the national economy, the ability of human resource professionals to negotiate collective bargaining agreements successfully is of considerable importance.
Collective bargaining refers to employees negotiating with management (or owners) as a block (or unit) rather than individually. Wages and safety issues are the most typical issues over which collective bargaining occurs; other issues include workplace conditions and benefits. It is not necessary for employees to have a formal union in place in order to participate in collective bargaining, but most instances of collective bargaining in the workplace involve one or several
unions, which are overseen by the National Labor Relations Boar] (NLRB) which was established in 1936 (Sherman, Bohlander, & Snell, 1998, p. 559). Large unions are organized into the national organization and local unions (typically called "local" followed by an identifying number). The national organization can charter or disband a local as well as suspend it. Most locals must also obtain permission from the national union before going on strike.
The contract negotiating process involves union representatives and management representatives who negotiate wages, hours, benefits and other issues. While tactics and strategies can vary from company to company, most negotiating sessions begin with manageme...