Negotiation Role Play & Reflection

MGT5ERN: ASSIGNMENT 3
NEGOTIATION ROLE PLAY & REFLECTION
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Reflection of Member 4: Role- Union Representative
As a part of the simulation exercise, a dispute resolution and negotiation role play scenario
was conducted for which I was assigned the role of Union Representative, Lee Levine.
According to the role play simulation, Lee Levine is the union representative of unionised
labour who supplies bus drivers and employees for a failing bus company named Bundoora
Bus Company. I was well aware that the company has been incurring a severe loss due to
industry deregulation and rising costs and would likely go bankrupt in a few weeks if they are
not able to replace the unionised labours with cheaper non-union labours. In the past, I have
provided the company with several unionised labours and has given me a strong power base
in the company, which I would be utilised if necessary. It is me who has forced the company
to use unionised labour and also negotiate the EBA policies with me directly. In the latest
provision of EBA, the company has added a random drug test to ensure the safety of the
public (Murray et al., 2013). As none of my employees had any problem with it, I agreed to
it, and the first positive drug test case has arisen since the provision.
Casey Connor, one of my most trusted union members, has been tested positive, and I was
called to negotiate the consequences with the HR manager of Bundoora Bus Company, Sam
Smiley. In the role play, I was provided with the background information of Casey Connor
who had a past history of alcohol and recreational drug abuse but has been sober for the last
few years since his marriage. Before arriving at the office where Casey has been detained, I
planned out how to handle the situation and counter the accusations of Sam. Although I agree
that Sam is a good HR manager, I doubt the intentions of the company who is willing to get
rid of my unionised labours and hire cheaper non-union labours. I knew that I had to directly
talk with Casey and find out the details about the situation. Moreover, with knowledge gained
from a drug education seminar, I can challenge the legitimacy of the test process. Checking
the laboratory and testing process is the key to challenge the legitimacy of the test. Although
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