10.2190/CL8F-8RL4-VV7F-8JRR CL8F8RL4VV7F8JRR 0 AN INITIAL EVALUATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE: IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND A PROPOSED RESEARCH AGENDA 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=CL8F8RL4VV7F8JRR 2 CHARLES G. SMITH, JR. This article presents a brief history of the labor-management relations program in the federal service. The two major differences between federal and private sector bargaining - the inability to negotiate over wages and fringes and the no-strike prohibition - are presented. It is argued that the effectiveness of collective bargaining is hindered by structural and process restraints. Proposals for expanding the scope of bargaining And inflicting costs on the parties for failure to reach agreement are offered to policy makers with an eye toward improving the process. The article concludes with a research agenda to stimulate future inquiry into the mostly unexamined area of federal sector labor-management relations.