Conciliator, Department of Industrial Relations
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: WS20
Class Code: 9525
Established: 10/03/1947
Revised: 12/12/1973
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under direction, as an impartial representative of the California Conciliation Service, to mediate and conciliate labor disputes and to secure settlements of such disputes and grievances arising from the negotiation and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements or other recognized relationships; to promote the use of conciliation, arbitration, and fact-finding as means of preventing or resolving industrial disputes; to do preventive and advisory conciliation as required; to make investigations of labor disputes; and to do other work as required.
Typical Tasks
Confers with management and employee representatives in threatened or actual labor disputes, secures information concerning the background and issues of the dispute, and arrives at an understanding of the position and contentions of both management and employees; analyzes the issues of the dispute and develops alternative solutions to resolve issues deadlocking settlement; reviews solutions with disputant parties and suggests bases by which they may make voluntarily such concessions or commitments as to afford a reasonable basis for agreement on issues; suggests arbitration on dead-locked issues not capable of immediate settlement and tries to obtain agreement to such a course of action; supervises employee elections; gathers information and precedents on disputed issues for use of both parties; works cooperatively with other public and private agencies in relation to settlement of disputes; addresses interested groups on the work of the Conciliation Service; prepares reports.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Four years of experience, one year of which must have been within the last five years, in the conciliation of labor disputes or work stoppages resulting from labor disputes, or in the negotiation, administration, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements where these duties constituted the major element of the job. This experience shall have been comprehensive and shall have included major problems of management-labor relations such as wage levels, work hours, job security, health and welfare, working conditions, and related provisions of collective bargaining agreements. At least one year of this experience must have been in California. (One year of experience within the last five years performing the duties of an apprentice-ship consultant, Deputy Labor Commissioner, Fair Employment and Housing Consultant, or an equivalent position in the Department of Industrial Relations involving comparable labor-management relationship duties may be substituted for one year of the required experience.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Techniques and methods of conciliation and mediation; tactics and methods used by labor and management in labor disputes in both the private and public sectors; Federal and State laws relating to negotiation and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements; history of collective bargaining, labor organization, labor legislation, present day organization, policies, and activities of the major labor unions and employer associations; prevailing practices and precedents in regard to matters subject to collective bargaining agreements, including master agreement negotiations and industry-wide bargaining; Federal and State laws relating to wages, hours, and working conditions; laws, techniques, and methods of arbitration; job analysis techniques and various job evaluation and merit rating plans; California trade, industrial, and agricultural conditions and trends and California statutes relating to employment in school systems and the various political subdivisions throughout the State.
Ability to: Work effectively under stressful and unfavorable conditions; apply the techniques and methods of conciliation and mediation; analyze and evaluate situations, facts, and conflicting evidence, and reach and present sound conclusions; prepare clear and logical reports.
Special Personal Characteristics
Demonstrated objectivity; demonstrated proficiency in dealing effectively with people of varying personalities, temperaments, prejudices, loyalties, ambitions, and personal attitudes, and in commanding their respect; judicial temperament, perseverance, tact, mental alertness, good physical and mental stamina; willingness to work irregular hours and to travel to all parts of the State on short notice.
