Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 March 2020
Within the last decade a number of British workplaces have signed agreements incorporating final-offer arbitration (FOA), a well known procedure in the US but unusual in British industrial relations. This is the first thorough study of recent British experience. Data are drawn from a postal survey of 72 plants, yielding information on nearly 300 wage bargaining rounds, and from interviews with eight managers at FOA plants which had disputes under the procedure. A full picture of the style and impact of FOA procedures in British workplaces is documented.
Thanks for helpful comments go to John Kelly, Andrew Oswald, Marcus Rubin, John Treble, Andrew Wilkinson, anonymous referees and participants at conferences and seminars at Priszceton, UMIST, Department of Employment and LSE. Financial support from the Department of Employment is gratefully acknowledged but the analysis and opinions are wholly those of Metcalf and Milner and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Employment.