Ryan S. Johnson, PhD
Labor Arbitrator | Economist
Available for Appointment Nationwide
Ryan is a full-time labor arbitrator with a national practice, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He combines training in labor economics and law and economics with over 20 years of experience in teaching, research, consulting, and labor relations. He serves on the roster of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Ryan became interested in labor arbitration in the fall of 2000 while serving as Mario F. Bognanno’s graduate teaching assistant for a course in labor arbitration. From 2014 to 2021, he apprenticed under Arbitrator Bognanno, attending hearings and drafting mock awards.
Since 2002, Ryan has worked as a university professor, conducting research on unionization, discrimination and segregation, and the effects of federal anti-discrimination policy. He has also taught arbitration and collective bargaining in courses on Labor and Public Policy and Law and Economics, and he continues to teach in the Online MBA and Executive MBA programs at the University of Arizona Eller College of Management.
In his decisions, Ryan draws on his experience in labor arbitration and labor relations to evaluate the evidence, assess competing explanations, and interpret and apply the parties’ agreement in a clear and disciplined manner. His authority derives from the parties’ agreement, and his written awards explain how that agreement applies to the facts established in the record.
Areas of Practice
Ryan’s experience as an arbitrator and through his apprenticeship includes federal, state, local-government, and private-sector labor disputes, including matters involving law enforcement, corrections, utilities, manufacturing, and public transit.
Matters include:
Discipline and discharge
Contract interpretation, including overtime, seniority, classification, job bidding, scheduling, vacation, premium pay, and workplace rules
Grievance procedure and arbitrability, including procedural and substantive arbitrability
Wage and premium-pay disputes
Interest arbitration
The Arbitration Process
Approach
Ryan approaches each case with a focus on developing a complete and reliable record and issuing a clear, well-reasoned decision grounded in the parties’ collective bargaining agreement. He conducts both in-person and virtual hearings and works with the parties to ensure an efficient and professional process that allows both parties a full and fair opportunity to present their case.
Pre-Hearing
Ryan is available to conduct pre-hearing conferences to address scheduling, the formulation of the issue, witness and exhibit procedures, and other preliminary matters. He requests that the parties advise in advance whether a court reporter will be used.
Hearing
Hearings are conducted in a professional and even-handed manner, with an emphasis on an orderly presentation of evidence. Ryan expects that all objections be addressed to the arbitrator and typically addresses objections at the time they are raised, while maintaining flexibility to ensure the development of a complete record. Where appropriate, evidence may be received subject to weight or connection.
Witness sequestration and related procedural matters, not already addressed before the hearing, are addressed at the outset of the hearing.
Post-Hearing
Post-hearing briefs may be submitted by agreement of the parties or at the arbitrator’s request. Deadlines are typically established at the close of the hearing.
Awards
Ryan issues written awards that are clear, well-reasoned, and grounded in the record and the parties’ agreement. He addresses the issue as framed by the parties and bases his decision on the evidence presented. He issues awards within 60 days of the close of the record unless the parties agree otherwise, and he does not publish awards without the consent of the parties. Where he serves on a standing panel, the procedures and deadlines in the parties' panel agreement govern.