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Running head: IMPASSE DURING NEGOTIATION PROCESS 1

IMPASSE DURING NEGOTIATION PROCESS 4

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LECTURER

UNIVERSITY

Impasse is a situation that occurs when parties are not able to move forward towards a settlement or agreement to a conflict. Both the management and the union members should follow legal rules when dealing with any negotiation to resolve a conflict that may arise out of an impasse. (Marceau, 1969). 

On September 11 pilots and flight attendants realized that their workplaces had been transformed into lethal missiles after one of the planes had been hijacked. Throughout the four days grounding the airline unions worked overtime providing services to the traumatized passengers. As the flights resumed on September 15th refused to fly again since they were not sure of their security. Those who resumed the flying entered into a totally new work environment where they worked under no guidelines on how to handle any future hijackings that may occur. Many attendants invented galleys as defensive objects in case of any recurrence of such an event. As the attendants resumed their duties, new danger gazed at them, layoffs and this created an impasse. (http://dollarsandsense.org/archives/2002/0502ward.html)

While pleading their case, the airline refused to attend to the aid of the workers that were to be dumped. This impasse was rationalized by a proposal by a spokesperson to the attendants by saying that the airline business would be back on its feet, and so there was no need for laying off these workers. It took six months for the airlines to provide what was termed as meager supplements to the laid off attendants.

To resolve the impasse, the airlines should not neglect the workers as this only does more harm as it encourages attacks on the unions working conditions and contracts. The best way to deal with such impasse is by putting in place the regulations that state that in case of layoffs by airlines who provide bailout money should also provide demonstration of concessions by the security holders of the airlines, other creditors, and employees. This will prevent the attendants from bearing the brunt alone.

The unions should also form coalitions of flight attendants that will improve the fighting for their rights, safer workplaces, as well as a relief to their laid off colleagues. Such coalitions signify the coalition of the attendants in the various carrier companies. The airline unions should also stand in solidarity with other labor movements. Labor reforms should also be formed which make it much easier and not harder to organize and carry out strikes.( Weiss, 1996).)

When the management succeeds in weakening the unions, it increases the rate of the impasses, and this erodes the working conditions for the members of the unions. Therefore, the airline workers should understand these threats as this significantly determine what happens next. (Marceau, 1969). 

REFERENCES

Marceau, L. R. (1969). Dealing with a union. New York: American Management Association.

Bakke, E. W., Kerr, C., & Anrod, C. W. (1967). Unions, management, and the public: Readings and text. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World

Weiss, D. S. (1996). Beyond the walls of conflict: Mutual gains negotiating for unions and management. Chicago: Irwin Professional Pub.

http://dollarsandsense.org/archives/2002/0502ward.html

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