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…

Reviews the concept of the "right" to strike, state laws allowing strikes, and court decisions establishing standards in this area. (IRT)

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)

Several methodological flaws were found in a Public Service Research Council study relating increases in public employee strikes with the adoption of bargaining statutes. A replication, using teachers, suggests some nonstatutory factors that may strongly affect the incidence of teacher strikes. (Author/IRT)

The "irreparable harm" standard is an old principle of equity designed to limit court use of injunctions to situations in which the absence of court intervention would produce irreparable injury to legally protected interests. This study describes and analyzes the courts' use of the irreparable harm standard in anti-strike injunction…

Fact-finding, as a means of settling public employment disputes, is discussed. The history, legal status, and procedures of fact-finding are summarized. (MF)

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…

Examines some legislative strike remedies that have been enacted in various states and assesses their effectiveness in deterring strikes by public employees. Concludes that most such remedies are minimally effective at best. (For availability see EA 507 343) (Author/JG)

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.…

This guide presents an overview of collective bargaining in public employment in the State of Hawaii. Section 89-2 of the Hawaii Public Employee Collective Bargaining Law Partially defines collective bargaining as the "performance of the mutual obligations of the public employer and the exclusive representative at reasonable times, to confer…

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)

A consultant argues against a national bargaining law for public employees and discusses the success of local public bargaining. He urges that State legislation clarify policy as to coverage and administration of any such Act. (Author/JF)