10.2190/9LLR-3ABW-TD6U-EVWA 9LLR3ABWTD6UEVWA 0 THE RESOLUTION OF NEGOTIATION IMPASSES IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=9LLR3ABWTD6UEVWA 4 CHARLES G. SMITH This article examines the binding decisions of the Federal Service Impasses Panel. The panel is responsible for resolving impasses that arise from contract negotiations between labor and management in the federal service. Because strikes are not permitted by federal employees the panel has the authority to mediate and ultimately decide the terms of a labor agreement should the parties be unable to do so bilaterally. A framework for the study of the binding decision process of the panel is developed and a regression analysis of 307 of 311 cases decided by the panel from 1979 through July 1987 is presented. While the decisions of the panel are difficult to predict, the study concludes that the union does better when it makes use of "stability," "comparison" and "statute" arguments and does worse when the dispute arises from impact bargaining, the AFL-CIO is involved or final-offer procedures are used.