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The New Great Debate about Unionism and Collective Bargaining in U.S. State and Local Governments

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  • David Lewin
  • Jeffrey H. Keefe
  • Thomas A. Kochan

Abstract

Recently some state and local governments in the United States have sharply reduced or eliminated public employee unionism and bargaining rights in the belief that their fiscal adversity stems mainly from overcompensation of public employees caused by collective bargaining. The authors examine public-private sector pay and benefit relationships, the effects of unions on public employee pay, the effectiveness of employment dispute resolution procedures, and the ability of public sector labor and management to combat fiscal adversity. They provide new evidence showing that: on balance, public employees are undercompensated relative to their private sector counterparts; the effects of unions on compensation are smaller in the public than in the private sector; and public sector dispute resolution procedures and joint labor-management initiatives to reform work function reasonably well.

Suggested Citation

  • David Lewin & Jeffrey H. Keefe & Thomas A. Kochan, 2012. "The New Great Debate about Unionism and Collective Bargaining in U.S. State and Local Governments," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 65(4), pages 749-778, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:65:y:2012:i:4:p:749-778
    DOI: 10.1177/001979391206500401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Morikawa, Masayuki, 2016. "A comparison of the wage structure between the public and private sectors in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 73-90.
    2. Eunice S. Han, 2023. "The effect of changes in public sector bargaining laws on teacher union membership," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 61(1), pages 133-158, March.

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