Human Resources Management for Health Care Organizations: A Strategic Approach

Collective Bargaining in State and Local Government Agencies

Many states have passed legislation that grants state and local government employees the right to participate in collective bargaining with their employers. Other states permit public employees only the right to “meet and confer” with a public employer. Still other states lack statutes that permit or recognize the right of public employees to join unions or bargain with public employers. The duty to meet and confer provides unions with the right to discuss with the public employer their proposals establishing the terms and conditions of employment. However, employers are free to ignore the views of the unions and make unilateral decisions as to the terms and conditions of employment. ...