Labor Relations in the Public Sector

1 History and Development
I Introduction
II Early American Unionism
III Factors Contributing to Private Sector Union Decline
IV Unions in Government
V Why Government Workers Join Unions—The Individual Perspective
References

2 Unions Today
I Introduction
II The Federal Government
III Nonprofit Organizations
IV State and Local Government
V Prospects
References

3 Legal Environment of Public Sector Labor Relations
I Introduction
II Right to Form and Join Unions
III Labor Relations in Federal Employment: The Legal Basis
IV Legal Basis of Labor Relations in State and Local Governments
V Summary
References

4 Fundamentals of the Bargaining Process
I Introduction
II Public–Private Sector Differences
III Electing a Union and Getting a Contract: The Elements of Collective Bargaining
IV Summary and Conclusions
References

5 Process and Politics of Public Sector Collective Bargaining
I Introduction
II Internal Process and Politics
III External Politics
VI Internal Bargaining Processes: From Traditional to Interest-Based Bargaining
V Ratification of the Contract
VI Interest-Based Bargaining’s Potential
VII Summary and Conclusions
References

6 Financial Impacts of Unions and Collective Bargaining
I Introduction
II Budget Making and Unions
III Unions, Wages, and Benefits
IV Are Public Sector Workers Paid More than Private Sector Workers?
V Comparing the Relative Effects of Unions in the Public and Private Sectors
VI Effects of Public Employee Unions on Compensation: Methodological Problems
VII Effects of Public Employee Unions on Compensation: A Review of the Findings
VIII Responding to Public Sector Compensation Cost Increases
IX Productivity Bargaining (Gainsharing)
X Monetary Impacts of Federal Employee Unions
XI Conclusion
References

7 Union Impacts: Personnel Processes and Policies
I Introduction
II Merit Systems
III Specific Impacts of Unions on Personnel Functions and Policies
IV Conclusion
References

8 Strike!
I Introduction
II A Strike by Any Other Name
III Public Sector Strike Activity
IV The Right to Strike in Public Employment
V Legislation Pertaining to Strikes
VI Public Policy and the Incidence of Strikes
VII Why Public Employees Strike
VIII Strike Tactics
IX Conclusions and a Look Ahead
References

9 Resolving Impasses: Alternatives to the Strike
I Introduction
II Private Sector Experience
III Impasse Resolution in Federal Employment
IV State and Local Government Impasse Procedures
V Search for Flexibility
VI Uncertainty: Benefit or Bane?
VII Conclusion: The Benefits of Impasse Procedures
References

10 Living with the Contract
I Introduction
II Collective Bargaining Agreement
III Grievance Procedures
IV Grievance Arbitration
V Grievance Procedures in Federal Employment
VI New Directions in Grievance Handling
VII Conclusion
References

11 Public Employee Unions in the Future
I Introduction
II Decline of Private Sector Unions
III Challenges for Public Employee Unions
IV Opportunities
V Labor–management Cooperation and Participative Decision Making
VI Public Employee Unions in the 2020s: Conclusion
References

Biography

Patrice M. Mareschal is a professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy and Administration, Rutgers University, USA. Her areas of research and teaching include public and nonprofit management, human resources, labor relations, and public policy with a focus on teachers, police, and other public and nonprofit sector employees. She has partnered with various organizations to conduct publicly engaged scholarship, including: FMCS, SEIU, NJ AFL-CIO, and In the Public Interest. Prior to beginning her academic career, Dr. Mareschal worked in labor employment relations with Ford Motor Company and the National Labor Relations Board.

Richard C. Kearney is a retired professor and former director of the School of Public and International Affairs, North Carolina State University, USA. He previously held teaching and administrative positions at East Carolina University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of South Carolina. He has published widely in the areas of labor relations, human resource management, and state and local government. He is a retired member of AFSCME.