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Running head: CASE STUDY - PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING LEGISLATION

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CASE STUDY - PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING LEGISLATION
This assignment will be based on the reading of the Case Study, Public Sector Bargaining
Legislation and Strikes by author Charles Greer. Through this assignment, I will be reviewing
the case study and answering the following questions: Does arbitration tend to help or hinder
public employee bargaining? Be sure to explain and support your position, does collective
bargaining legislation increase the amount of strikes? And what were some of the unfair labor
practices that are applicable to unions?
Does arbitration tend to help or hinder public employee bargaining? Be sure to explain and
support your position.
My opinion is that arbitration should not be used as a tool to cure all labor issues.
However, I remain in agreement with Greers view, in that arbitration can serve as a valuable
purpose when it comes to bargaining in the public sector. My personal stance is that, I do not
believe that there is one set answer to this question. My opinion is that arbitration has both the
potential to help or hinder public employee bargaining depending upon the circumstances of the
case and contract. In the case of the Oklahoma City police strike, the Oklahoma Firefighters and
Policemen's Arbitration Act was implemented and arbitration was used for the purpose of
provision of interest. My understanding is that this was implemented to help rule judgment when
the agreement on the contract could not be made between the parties. My understanding of this
case is that arbitration may have impacted the city or the officers differently had the city been
forced by binding arbitration to accept the arbitrators ruling. In the instance of a binding
arbitration ruling, the issues and demands presented during the bargaining phase, at this point
could no longer be bargained or changed.

Does collective bargaining legislation increase the amount of strikes?
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CASE STUDY - PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING LEGISLATION
I do not believe that collective bargaining legislation increases the amount of strikes.
However, I do believe that when determining what causes strikes or increases the amount of
strikes that take place, environmental characteristics should be taken into consideration. Based in
the cross sectional study on strike data from 1973, positive correlations were found between
local public sectors in regards to strike frequency and duration, but no correlation found between
state sectors compared to the local sectors. This is because the variables in relation to the
environmental characteristics of levels sector differ from one another. Kochan states that, It
would make little sense to compare the incidence of public sector strikes in two states having
different public sector labor relations legislation without controlling for the fact that those states
may vary widely in environmental characteristics (Greer, 1978, p.246). This proves to me that,
the empirical study on economic, social, political and industrial relations sub environment and
their relationship to public policy issues is in fact great evidence to help conclude that these
environmental factors are major components in helping to determine what causes and increases
strikes.
What were some of the unfair labor practices that are applicable to unions?
The article states that some of the unfair labor practices that are applicable to unions
were, interfering with, restraining, intimidating or coercing employees exercising their rights;
interfering with the selection of the employer's collective bargaining representatives; and
refusing to bargain in good faith (Greer, 1978, p.243).


Reference
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CASE STUDY - PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING LEGISLATION
Greer, C. R. (1978). Public Sector Bargaining Legislation and Strikes: A Case Study. Labor Law
Journal, 29(4), 241-247.