Despite a deterioration of labor-management relations over the past few years and increasing difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, labor and management representatives have developed a program that all parties believe will result in significant progress toward resolving their concerns. However, implementation of the program is dependent upon four factors:

1. 1) Funding for a state-wide coordinator;
   
   
2. 2) Funding for training and operational expenditures;
   
   
3. 3) Oversight by labor and management representatives; and
   
   
4. 4) Availability of consulting and mediation services to assist in resolving disagreements and conflicts as they may arise between supervisors and staff members.

Funding is unavailable within the Montana University System, and external funds are critical to the successful implementation of MAP and improving labor- management relations.