The latest article from The Oregonian reports on an ongoing clash between Portland American Medical Response employees and the union consultants hired to negotiate better wages and benefits. The result was a department unhappy with its contract terms and a union dropping representation.

While this is a very specific situation, what happens when a union isn't effective? What qualifies the decision for a department to unionize or not? Do employees really have a choice? And how do other factors, like the desire to receive wages equal to your neighbors, play into contract negotiations?

Edited: 9/27/2007 at 4:10 PM by ForumAdmin