This book provides practical insights into improving the effectiveness of labour negotiations in the public sector. It outlines the common conceptions, goals, needs, and obligations the different parties involved in public sector labour negotiations bring with them to negotiations. It also offers useful guidelines for all participants in negotiations - showing, for example, how management can assess the added cost of a proposed employee contract, how unions can most effectively prepare a case for arbitration, and how employees can best handle strikes should negotiations break down.