The principal's right to independent bargaining may become increasingly important as more teachers' groups negotiate school district policy directly with boards of education. This chapter discusses the principal's role in collective negotiations and attempts to answer the question of whether a principal is part of management or of the labor-teacher faction. Following a brief discussion of the development of collective negotiations and the variety of items negotiable, the paper considers arguments against the participation of principals in teacher negotiating units. A review of the various state statutes that define the status of a school principal completes the chapter. Suggestions at the end are for an administrative team approach to solving problems and for the use of comprehensive agreements to bring principals into the management process. (Author/LD)