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Wage Bargaining Under the National Labor Relations Act

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  • Jesse A. Schwartz
  • Quan Wen

Abstract

Sections 8(a)(3) and 8(a)(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) prohibit the management of a firm from unilaterally increasing the wage during contract negotiations without the union's approval. We show how the management can strategically increase the wage during negotiations without violating the NLRA. Increasing the wage during negotiations will upset the union's incentive to strike and decrease the union's bargaining power, thereby shrinking the set of equilibrium contracts in the firm's favor. Indeed, as the union becomes more patient, the set of equilibrium wages converges to the best equilibrium outcome to the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesse A. Schwartz & Quan Wen, 2006. "Wage Bargaining Under the National Labor Relations Act," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(4), pages 1017-1039, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:15:y:2006:i:4:p:1017-1039
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9134.2006.00126.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fengjiao Chen & Chiu Yu Ko & Duozhe Li, 2018. "On the role of outside options in wage renegotiation," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 792-803, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory

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