Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe the collective-bargaining procedures used by California community colleges districts and the climates of the colleges as reported by faculty members and administrators. It was also the purpose of this study to describe the differences between two populations: a population with training in nonadversarial collective-bargaining strategies and a population without training in collective-bargaining strategies. Methodology. The study used descriptive research and ex post facto research. The sample was faculty members and administrators at colleges which had provided training in nonadversarial collective-bargaining techniques and faculty members and administrators at colleges which had not provided training in nonadversarial collective-bargaining techniques. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. Responses were written and mailed to the researcher. The data were presented in table and narrative form. Findings. The majority of California community colleges use traditional collective-bargaining methods. Not all of those colleges trained in nontraditional methods use them. Administrators perceive campus climates to be more positive than do faculty members both generally and during faculty negotiations. In levels of satisfaction with the outcomes of collective-bargaining methods, there was one less occurrence of significant difference between faculty and administrator satisfaction. Faculty members are more satisfied with the outcomes of nonadversarial collective-bargaining methods, while administrators are more satisfied with traditional collective-bargaining methods. A significant difference in general campus climate was found between colleges using traditional methods and those using nontraditional methods, with campuses using nontraditional methods having the more positive climates. This difference in campus climate between colleges using traditional methods and those using nontraditional methods was found to be even greater during times of faculty negotiations. Recommendations. California community college districts should assess their climates in relation to their methods of collective bargaining. If climates are not positive, faculty and administrators should investigate training in and implementation of nontraditional collective-bargaining methods.