The solution to the dispute must not violate the agreements between MnSCU and the collective bargaining units. The mediator controls all of the procedural aspects of the mediation process, but only the disputants determine and reach appropriate and voluntary settlement. Each disputant is expected to come to mediation in good faith. Good faith means that each disputant comes to mediation in order to genuinely attempt to reach a voluntary settlement and resolve the dispute. If secondary objectives surface in the mediation process which indicate that either party is not acting in good faith, the mediation process will be terminated.
All parties can expect to find their way toward a mutually agreeable solution.
Some advantages of medication include early closure of disputes and much lower costs when compared to arbitration. This committee will be known as the Coordinating Committee. A pool of bargaining-unit and administration members will be established to serve as mediators. The main responsibility of the Coordinating Committee is the management of the SCSU mediation project by marketing the project to the community evaluating each Request for Mediation to see if the case is appropriate for mediation promoting the project and its interests within the university and the MnSCU system assessing, evaluating and modifying the SCSU mediation project The Coordinating Committee will seek regular feedback from the bargaining units, administration, and mediation participants regarding the effectiveness of the SCSU mediation project. The Mediator Coordinator sits on the Coordinating Committee and serves as liaison between the Coordinating Committee and the mediators, convenes regular meetings for mediators, and reports on the status of mediations when necessary and possible.