Insights on Labor Relations & Compensation
Expert perspectives on collective bargaining, compensation studies, AI cost modeling, and public-sector HR from the CollBar team.
Your Resource for Labor Relations & Compensation Knowledge
The CollBar blog covers the topics that matter most to HR directors, finance directors, city managers, school superintendents, and labor relations professionals in public entities and unionized organizations. Our articles are designed to help you make better decisions — whether you are preparing for collective bargaining, evaluating your compensation structure, or trying to understand the true cost of a union contract proposal.
Our coverage includes practical guides on how to cost a union contract, explanations of state-specific pension systems like Illinois TRS and Ohio STRS, analysis of the differences between traditional labor costing software and modern AI-powered approaches, and step-by-step guides for HR professionals navigating mediation, interest arbitration, and PERC proceedings. We also publish state-specific guides for the 15+ markets where our clients operate.
Every article is written from the perspective of professionals who have spent careers on the employer side of the table — inside local government, school districts, healthcare systems, and Fortune 500 labor relations departments. This is not generic HR advice. It is the kind of domain-specific guidance you would get from a senior consultant, available here at no cost. Browse the latest articles below and reach out if you have questions about any topic we cover.
