The goal of MASB's Labor Relations Department is to provide high quality labor relations services to Michigan's public schools without the high charges of profit oriented firms. We service only school boards, so we understand and appreciate your special needs. Several times a year the labor relations department sponsors conferences, workshops and institutes that provide board members with timely information on pertinent labor relations topics. We also offer customized in-service programs that are designed to meet the specific needs of your district.

When a member school district contracts with the MASB, an experienced, qualified professional labor relations consultant is ready to assist your district with its labor relations needs, such as contract analysis, collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, fact-finding, MERC hearings and other labor board proceedings.

Contract Analysis
Your school board sets educational and financial objectives for your district. Collective bargaining agreements contain liabilities that can frustrate and defeat those objectives. A MASB Labor Relations consultant will examine and analyze your collective bargaining agreement(s) to determine those liabilities. Recommendations of how to improve a contract, allowing for improved management flexibility and directing school resources toward quality education, will be included in the analysis.

Collective Bargaining
MASB's Labor Relations consultants knows that success at the bargaining table begins long before the actual bargaining. Success is based upon preparation. We work with your school board to establish objectives for bargaining. We develop strategies to accomplish those objectives. Our Labor Relations consultants serve as the chief spokesperson for collective bargaining (including mediation and fact-finding) with the union. We offer professional advice in all methods of collective bargaining including traditional, and the latest collaborative techniques including, Win-Win, Mutual Gains and Target Specific.

Grievance/Arbitration Handling
Our Labor Relations Consultants work with the administration as a grievance proceeds through the steps of the grievance process.

For more information about our services, contact Brad Banasik, 517.327.5929, Tom White, 517.515.1604 or Kelly Jones, 517.327.5927. We look forward to working with you. 

MASB's Labor Relations Services

The Bargaining Toolkit