Three labor relations specialists present their views of the collective negotiation process in public education, based largely on their collective experience with educational negotiations in the State of Michigan. The first chapter, prepared by Charles T. Schmidt, Jr., is an overview of collective negotiations in education and includes a general discussion of the history of bargaining in the United States. The structure of the bargaining relationship is analyzed and six postulates of collective bargaining are suggested. In Chapter two, the Chief Mediation Officer of the Michigan Labor Mediation Board, Hyman Parker, discusses key provisions of the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act and the procedures and practices of the Mediation Board under that act. In the third chapter, Mr. Schmidt offers several suggestions related to preparing for the negotiations and the formal negotiation process. In the final chapter, Bob Repas discusses the process of agreement administration and emphasizes the purposes, characteristics, and tactics of effective grievance procedures. A bibliography citing 184 recent documents dealing with collective bargaining in public employment is included. (JH)