The purposes of this study were: (1) to present data resulting from an analysis of the ninety-seven published grievance-arbitration awards involving issues of racial discrimination occurring between April 1, 1974, and December 31, 1980? and (2) to determine from the data how labor arbitrators have reacted to Alexander v. Gardner-Denver Co., 415 U.S. 36 (1974) . The Supreme Court held that labor arbitration was a "comparatively inappropriate" forum for the resolution of employment discrimination disputes. However, the Court said that an arbitral award could be "accorded great weight" by a lower court when certain relevant factors are present in an award. The cases were analyzed to determine the extent to which arbitrators responded to the factors set forth in the Gardner-Denver decision.

This study concerns the general question, "What has been the impact of collective bargaining representation elections on nonprofit hospitals in Texas?" The means of answering this question involved a study of wages and attitudes of nonprofessional employees in both hospitals where such elections occurred and hospitals where no such elections had occurred in the State of Texas. An overview of the development of hospitals and the union movement in hospitals are presented as background information for this study. Further, a brief discourse on attitude development and attitude measurement is provided as theoretical foundational material. A researcher-constructed questionnaire was devised, tested, and administered to employees of the subject hospitals. There were 176 useable returns from employees where no union representation election occurred and 176 useable returns from employees where union representation elections occurred.