INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose:

The primary purpose of this web site is to provide arbitration awards for our students.  This site however is also open to the public and we hope it will be useful to arbitrators, unions, employers, academicians, lawyers and anyone else who is interested in the field of arbitration and mediation. There is no charge to use this web site. We believe strongly that equal justice means equal access and that the more people know about alternatives to litigation the more likely they will be to consider using mediation and arbitration.

B. Contributors: 

Unions, employers, lawyers and arbitrators have graciously provided us with copies of these awards.  We have deleted the names of the parties and replaced the names with either initials, new names or words like "grievant" and "supervisor." You will find union grievance awards in the "Union Grievance Arbitartion Awards" section. You will find non union arbitration awards in the "Non Union Employment Arbitration Awards" section of the menu tab to your left. All of the arbitration awards have been summarized and the summaries are listed by the last name of the arbitrator and by issue.

C. Examples of Useful Menu Tab Sections:

This web site also includes links to other web sites that you may find helpful in your arbitration research.  For example, in the "Arbitration Awards by State or City" section, you will find that the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) link has numerous grievance and interest arbitration decisions. You will also find that the Michigan Interest Arbitration and Fact Finding Awards link and the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) link have several interest arbitration awards. In the "Public Sector Unions" section you will find that some of the union web sites also have arbitration awards or summaries of awards.

If you would like to learn how to become an arbitrator  or fact finder go to the "Arbitrator and Fact Finder Links" section.  If you would like to see the resumes of many of Michigan's arbitrators go to the "Arbitrator and Fact Finders Resumes" section.  If you would like to see recent court decisions regarding arbitration go to Courts and Arbitration.

If you would like to learn how to prepare for arbitration and collective bargaining go to the HOW TO sections of this web site.

Every year GVSU students arbitrate cases before lawyers, arbitrators, union representatives and employer representatives from the Grand Rapids community. Above is a picture that was taken just before the start of the arbitration hearings this year.  The students and GVSU thank all of you who have contributed to this web site because the site is of great assistance to the students in preparing for the arbitrations. If you would like to make a donation to this site please go to the "Contact Us" menu tab for more information.