Member tip for the week of January 30, 2012

Public Employees, Bargaining, and Strikes

For public employees, often the services of a mediator or a fact-finder (someone who holds a mini-hearing where each side presents the facts and arguments to justify its bargaining positions) is required as a matter of law for the collective bargaining process.  And sometimes in the public sector, when the parties are unable to see eye to eye, an outside arbitrator (like a judge) or a government agency has the power to set the terms of what the new contract will be.  Some public employees ultimately have the legal right to strike, but many don’t.  And some that don’t have the legal right to strike routinely do so, anyway.

Adapted from The Union Members Complete Guide, by Michael Mauer