The recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in the "Columbia University"case granting students who serve as teaching or research assistants at private universities the right to unionize dealt a major blow to private higher education as we know it. In a long-anticipated decision, the NLRB ruled that any student who…

Ever wonder why union members' salary and benefits, workload agreements, and other aspects of their collective bargaining agreements, or "contracts," often remain unchanged and enforced during the all-too-common periods when public employees labor without a contract? In New York, the answer boils down to an understanding of the Public…

Developments in South African labour legislation since the inception of the new democracy indicate serious attempts by the legislators to protect the interests of employees. The Bill of Rights has, concurrently, enshrined a variety of fundamental rights that, in principle, offer protection in the workplace. Despite this established, protective…

Outlines five approaches to the use of court injunctions to end public employee work stoppages. The current use of injunctions seriously impedes free and open collective bargaining. (Author/IRT)

Considers the language and objectives of Minnesota law and concludes that a complete prohibition of sympathy strikes will frustrate the law's goal--minimizing public employee labor disputes by equalizing the bargaining strength of employers and employees. Available from University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN…

Provides a brief history of the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act, examining both its antecedents and the studies made of it after it was in operation for some years. (IRT)

Outlines the history of Wisconsin's Municipal Employment Relations Act (MERA), details the new MERA procedures, and analyzes some of the procedure's implications for municipal labor relations. Concludes that the limitations placed on the right to strike may undermine the statute's long-term effectiveness. Journal availability: see EA 511 539.…

Examines Ohio's Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act from a union perspective and argues that the act has advanced the cause of "orderly and constructive relationships" between Ohio's public employers and their employees. (MLF)

Examines the impact of private labor rulings on Pennsylvania's public employee laws, public sector strikes and their implications, and Pennsylvania's public employee laws and the right to strike. Available from Duquesne Law Review, 901 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; sc $3.50. (Author/IRT)

The right to strike should be granted to public school teachers. If proper mediation procedures are mandated, the strike weapon would be used only as a last resort to collective bargaining. Available from Southwestern University School of Law, 675 South Westmoreland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90005. (Author)

An examination of the eight public employee statutes in force in Washington--considering which rights are granted public employees, which are denied, and which remain unclear--points out the inadequacy of this approach. The eight existing statutes should be consolidated. Available from Gonzaga Law Review, Gonzaga University School of Law, Gonzaga…

Historical evidence is presented for the thesis that exclusive union representation by majority rule was adopted in the private sector primarily to pave the way for a corporative state. Peaceful, orderly collective bargaining by "responsible" unions in a competitive economy was a minor, secondary consideration. (Author/MLF)

Trends toward greater teacher unionization will increase in the 1980s, as teachers react to economic pressures springing from school closures, declining enrollments, and attempts to fund private schools with public taxes. Educational unions will become more politically active, to protect teachers' union and civil rights. (RW)

The accessibility of declaratory judgment would greatly diminish the propensity toward self-help to "solve" labor conflicts and would decrease the concomitant potential for violence and damages. Available from Seton Hall University School of Law, 1095 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102. (Author/IRT)

The growing trend of judicial support allowing employers and third parties to seek damages in public employee strikes is reviewed from the union perspective. Includes a discussion of the historical trend of liability theories. This area of public sector labor relations law is developing with no clear national trend. (MD)