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Abstract

The past decade of public sector labor relations has been one of limited growth. A major variable affecting the course of this growth has been the legal environment within which the public sector labor movement has operated. Focusing on the statistical patterns of the fifty states and their municipal governments, this study examines the impact of the legal environment, or the union legislative environment, on the development of labor relations in the public sector. The statistical analysis of the data suggests that while a positive union legislative environment is associated with public sector union membership growth, the relationship between the legal environment and the climate of labor relations—measured in terms of work stoppages, their number, duration and size—is a relatively weak one. Those states that have progressive labor relations laws do not seem to have experienced inordinate labor strife. The 1980s appears, however, to hold little hope for the growth of the public sector labor movement. Demographic changes, coupled with a decline in demand for certain public services, is likely to curtail the growth of state and local government employment. This will adversely affect the market for union and association membership among public employees, and will also probably contribute to a diminuition in legislative activity in the public labor relations area.

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Public Sector Labor Relations in the States and Municipalities: The Impact of Union Legislative Environment

Abstract

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