There have been numerous developments since the second edition of this book appeared seven years ago. Inevitably there is a seemingly endless train of litigation before the National Labor Relations Board. The Board now appears to be less ideological and more balanced than at the time of the second edition and thus its decisions and conduct as of the end of 1992 are less controversial than was the case throughout most of the 1980s. Though some of the decisions are significant and thus worthy of attention in this third edition, the shrinking percentage of employees represented by unions in the United States – it is now approximately 15 percent of the work force – has reduced the Board’s impact and influence and that of the American labor arbitration system as well.

Deregulation in transportation has produced nonunion competition for the organized sector, and that in turn appears to be primarily responsible for more litigation in the organized sector of those industries. One of the consequences of deregulation is thus the emergence of new precedent under the Railway Labor Act, which covers both railroads and airlines.