10.2190/WLM9-YMVX-R4DK-NTN2 WLM9YMVXR4DKNTN2 0 TIME SPENT PROCESSING INTEREST ARBITRATION CASES: THE MINNESOTA EXPERIENCE 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=WLM9YMVXR4DKNTN2 1 FREDERIC C. CHAMPLIN AND MARIO F. BOGNANNO This article contains an exploratory analysis of the time taken by a sample of cases to progress through the Minnesota Public Employee Relations Act impasse procedure. Results indicate that cases involving strikes take somewhat less time than those ending in arbitration. The usual case takes six to eight months to pass through the procedure. This compares favorably to New York interest arbitration experience and FMCS grievance case experience but still represents a substantial delay. Evidence is also presented which suggests that bargainers spend more time in actual negotiation under the strike threat than when arbitration is the impasse procedure - support for the "Chilling effect."