in bargaining. As part of our discussion, we will consider theefficacy of the strike and lockout as economic weapons to help forceparties into reaching an agreement.To help resolve impasse, parties ha

in bargaining. As part of our discussion, we will consider theefficacy of the strike and lockout as economic weapons to help forceparties into reaching an agreement.

To help resolve impasse, parties have turned toward mediation andfact-finding as techniques to help find common ground for agreements.Both mediation and fact-finding involve the use of a neutral thirdparty to help the union and management reach an agreement. Neitherprocess, however, can force a party into accepting specified termswithin the agreement. Interest arbitration, however, can resolve theimpasse by permitting the neutral party to make the decision on theterms of the agreement. [The use of arbitration to resolve grievancesthat arise as a result of alleged violations of the agreement ordisagreement regarding the interpretation of the language in theagreement is well accepted in the U.S. system of labor relations. Thistype of arbitration is referred to as grievance arbitration.] However,in the private sector, we do not see the parties frequently usinginterest arbitration as a means to resolve an impasse.

In your initial post please address the following:

Why is interest arbitration used so infrequently in the private sector?