COMPUSORY INTEREST ARBITRATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY--THE FIRST THREE YEARS

ARLYNE K. LIEBESKIND

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DOI: 10.2190/MUAW-WFR2-Q9EW-AMP3

Abstract

In New Jersey, compulsory interest arbitration (Chapter 85 Public Laws 1977) is an integral part of collective bargaining legislation for all public safety units. The research involved an analysis of the economic and noneconomic bargaining outcomes under a system of compulsory interest arbitration. All data were gleaned from police final-offer awards issued burring 1978, 1979 and 1980. For the three-year study, the awarded union positions averaged 1.0 percent higher than the awarded employer positions in 1978, 0.8 percent higher in 1979, and 0.5 percent higher in 1980. The fact that the gap between the average awarded settlement narrowed significantly indicates that compulsory interest arbitration preformed its function in brining the parties so close together that voluntary settlements were possible in 68 percent of the cases. Among the noneconomic issues processed to final-offer arbitration by police groups, interest arbitrators consistently approved police proposals for binding arbitration and agency shop while consistently rejecting proposals for autonomous safety and health committees. The value of predictability is that realistic expectations on the part of both parties can promote more positive pre-arbitration negotiations.

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