Public Sector Labor Relations: Federal
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Authors: James Anelli, Robert Pettigrew, LeClairRyan
Summary
- Public sector labor relations is governed federal and state law. See Public Sector Unions.
- The laws that govern federal employees are generally found in the Civil Service Relations Act of 1978, also known as the Federal Service Labor Management Statute, +5 U.S.C. Section 7101 et. seq.
- The laws that govern state and municipal employees vary from state-to-state.
- Most states have passed various laws to formalize the bargaining process for some or all public employees. While a few states still prohibit public sector collective bargaining, and some permit only "meeting and conferring" on work-related issues, the overwhelming majority of states permit public sector unions and collective bargaining between the parties. See Scope of Negotiable Issues.
- There are significant differences between the rights and administration of public sector and private sector unions. See Public Sector vs. Private Sector Unions.