Get into HR >> Browse Articles >> HR Specializations
Labor Relations Specialist
March 04, 2008
Labor relations managers and their staffs implement industrial labor relations programs. Labor relations specialists prepare information for management to use during collective bargaining agreement negotiations, a process that requires the specialist to be familiar with economic and wage data and to have extensive knowledge of labor law and collective bargaining trends. The labor relations staff interprets and administers the contract with respect to grievances, wages and salaries, employee welfare, health care, pensions, union and management practices, and other contractual stipulations. As union membership continues to decline in most industries, industrial relations personnel are working more often with employees who are not members of a labor union.
Dispute resolution, attaining tacit or contractual agreements, has become increasingly significant as parties to a dispute attempt to avoid costly litigation, strikes, or other disruptions. Dispute resolution also has become more complex, involving employees, management, unions, other firms, and government agencies. Specialists involved in dispute resolution must be highly knowledgeable and experienced, and often report to the director of industrial relations. Conciliators, or mediators, advise and counsel labor and management to prevent and, when necessary, resolve disputes over labor agreements or other labor relations issues. Arbitrators, occasionally called umpires or referees, decide disputes that bind both labor and management to specific terms and conditions of labor contracts. Labor relations specialists who work for unions perform many of the same functions on behalf of the union and its members.
Want to find out of this is the right career for you?
Take the quiz
Want to learn more?
• Get Started: 10 Steps to Becoming an HR Professional.
Ready to find a job?
HRGuru has the largest database of HR jobs in the nation. You can search by location, title, and industry.
Already in Labor Relations?
• Discuss: Share what’s on your mind, find support, or become a mentor.
• Join: Join a group of your peers.
• Rate Your Workplace: Tell us how your employer measures up.
How does the salary measure up?
