Public Sector Labor Relations

Public Management (PMGT) 5540

Course Description :

• An Introduction to the subject of public sector labor relations and collective bargaining. No prerequisite is required, although some knowledge of human resource management is advisable.

• Course Purpose and Objectives
• Needed materials
• Course Outline
• Instructor/More Information

Course Purpose and objectives

Purpose :

• This course is an introduction to the public sector labor relations. The history of the American labor movement is considered, as well as a brief discussion of the origins of the public sector unions. The legal framework of labor relations is considered, as well as the structure, government and operation of labor unions. Collective negotiation, contract administration, and a discussion of wage issues under collective bargaining are also presented.

Course Objectives :

• 1. To gain a knowledge of the American labor movement.
  2. To understand the legal constraints on management and labor.
  3. To gain knowledge -- both theoretical and practical of collective negotiation in the public sector.
  4. To understand the theory and practice of contract administration.
  5. To gain knowledge of wage issues in the public sector negotiation process, as well as an understanding of other salient issues: discipline, pensions, fringe benefits, etc..

Needed materials :

Texts

• Sloane, Arthur A. and Witney, Fred, Labor Relations, 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice - Hall, 1997.

Other :

• Computer Disk : Please buy 3.5" High Density, IBM format (1.44MB) diskette.

  Internet Access : If you do not already have an internet account, please get a free internet account and learn to use it early in the semester. some instructional materials and class discussion may be put on the web.

Course Outline :

Week	Topic	Sloane and Witney
1	Organized Labor and Management	Chap. 1
2	The Historical Framework	Chap. 2
3	The Rise of Public Sector Unionism	Instructor's Handout
4	The Legal Framework	Chap. 3
5	Cases and Controversies in the Public Sector	Intructor's Handout
6	Union Behavior: Structure, Government, & Operation	Chap. 4
7	At the Bargaining Table	Chap. 5
8	Simulation Excercise	Instructor's Handout
9	Administration of the contract	Chap. 6
10	Simulation Excercise	Instructor's Handout
11	Wage Issues & Collective Bargaining	Chap. 7
12	Pension Plans, Vacation Pay, & Health Programs	Chap. 8
13	Institutional Issues Under Collective Bargaining	Chap. 9
14	Administrative Issues	Chap. 10
15	Review	Instrutor's Handout

This is a tentative schedule which is adapted each semester to fit the academic calendar.

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For more Information, Contact

Dr Lon Felker

214 Sam Wilson Hall

East Tennessee State University

Department of Economics, Finance and Urban Studies

Box 70686

Johnson City, TN 37614-0686

(423) 439 - 6631.

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