MENDING FENCES, BUILDING BRIDGES - THE EFFECT OF RELATIONSHIP BY OBJECTIVES ON CONFLICT

This paper evaluates twenty-four Relationships by Objectives (RBO) pro grams conducted by the Education Relations Commission in Ontario. RBO, a form of preventive mediation, applies problem-solving techniques to attempt to reduce such unnecessary conflict as language disputes over grievances, strikes, and the time in negotiations. Mean conflict scor es of the RBO boards are compared, before and after RBO, with those of the education sector and a control group of boards. Some evidence is found of a ''half-life'' effect for RBO programs since long-run confli ct scores returned to pre-RBO levels. However, RBO appears to be effec tive in reducing conflict as measured by time to reach a settlement an d number of grievance arbitrations over language issues. By examining school boards where RBO had a negative impact, some possible causes of failure are identified and appropriate recommendations made.