Prior to selecting a bargaining strategy, an employer must identify its goals: is it important to obtain more favorable economic terms, less restrictive contract ........., or both?

An employer must also determine if it has the proper person sitting at the bargaining table on its ..........

Is it time to introduce a new face as the company spokesperson to show the union that ......... are changing?

Alan I. Model asserts that there are several considerations that every employer must ......... before it sits down to bargain.

A review of judicial and administrative rulings will help determine if contractual provisions may have been modified or even ......... by the courts or the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Obtain the input of operating managers and line supervisors as to how they administer the labor agreement; often the best insights on the company's bargaining position come from the ......... lines.

If the company is ......... to an agreement that was negotiated by a multi-employer bargaining group, the company must determine before the beginning of negotiations whether to negotiate as part of the group or as an individual employer.

Construct a financial model that computes the specific cost components; this action is vital in determining the ......... of any bargaining goals and objectives.

Know your .........: use contacts in the labor arena to learn about the union and its officers.

This information may help identify any intra-union pressures ......... on a union negotiator that may facilitate or hinder attempts to reach a deal.