Exploring the Role of Representation in Employment Mediation at the USPS
Department
Political Science and International Affairs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2002
Abstract
Perceptions of the fairness of the grievance procedure affect perceptions about the effectiveness of those procedures; indeed, researchers have found that employee satisfaction is more strongly influenced by the perceived fairness of the grievance procedure than by the perceived fairness of the grievance outcome. This study uses 7651 data tracking reports to examine the numbers of complainants, respondents, and representatives present; which parties had representatives; the mediation's duration; and its outcome. Unlike the attorneys for craft employees, attorneys for supervisors and managers are supplied by the Postal Service itself when the USPS determines that an attorney's presence is needed. Because union representation is associated with higher settlement rates for both complainants and respondents and higher satisfaction levels for complainants than occurs with other types of representatives, unionized private sector employers may want to rethink opposition to some form of union participation in employment dispute resolution.
Journal Title
Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution
Journal ISSN
1046-4344
Volume
17
First Page
341
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2139/ssrn.1420228