Win Win or Else: Collective Bargaining in an Age of Public Discontent

School Administrator, March, 1997 by Clifford B. Janey

Instead of adding another educational reform to an already full agenda, William G. Keane in his book, Win Win or Else: Collective Bargaining in an Age of Public Discontent, takes a practical approach to a complex problem.

Given the need for increased confidence in our public schools, Keane's advice is thoughtful and timely. He suggests that managing conflict on and off the table is to the advantage of management as well as labor. Contracts that are negotiated through a collaborative approach are more likely to engender a positive and engaging climate for successor agreements. Such an approach makes it pointless to use traditional tactics of blame and name.

In this lucid and balanced book, Keane carefully examines the effect of the new principles and values for negotiations. According to Keane, it is in neither party's interest to see itself as "keepers of the flame" against a selfish adversary. A win/win approach to collective bargaining is at the heart of building long-term relationships that will support the organization's goal of improved student performance while affirming the importance of its core values. By reimagining a host of stubborn legacies, Keane reveals strategic ways of avoiding the consequences of win/lose.

(Win Win or Else: Collective Bargaining in an Age of Public Discontent, by William Keane, Corwin Press, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, Calif. 91320-2218, 1996, 72 pp., $28.95 hardcover, $12.95 softcover)