NCJ Number
56961
Journal
Justice System Journal Volume: 4/3 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 304-313
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE ECONOMIC, STRUCTURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL, AND SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPACTS WHICH HAVE RESULTED FROM UNIONIZATION OF COURT EMPLOYEES ARE ASSESSED.
Abstract
IN 1977 A CASE STUDY APPROACH WAS USED TO CONDUCT A SURVEY OF IMPACTS OF COURT PERSONNEL UNIONIZATION IN SEVEN STATES (MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND, AND MASSACHUSETTS). ADDITIONAL DATA WERE INCLUDED FOR THE STRIKES IN MINNESOTA. THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAVE BEEN GREATEST IN RURAL AREAS. IN CITIES, COURT PERSONNEL HAVE GENERALLY BEEN GIVEN THE SAME WAGES AS OTHER CITY OR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TEND TO FOCUS MORE ON JOB BENEFITS. IN RURAL AREAS, HOWEVER, COURT WORKERS HAVE BEEN STEPCHILDREN TO OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THERE IS LITTLE PARITY IN WAGES. UNIONIZATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED THESE EMPLOYEES. UNIONIZATION HAS NOT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES AS A WHOLE BECAUSE THE COURTS COMPRISE SUCH A SMALL PART OF STATE AND LOCAL EXPENDITURE. THE MAJOR IMPACTS OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAVE BEEN POWER SHIFTS. NO LONGER CAN LOCAL OFFICIALS IGNORE THE NEEDS OF THE COURTS. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CONFLICTS AS TO THE POWER STRUCTURE AT THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL. COURT ADMINISTRATORS HAVE INCREASED THEIR VISIBILITY AND PRESTIGE BECAUSE JUDGES DO NOT WISH TO BECOME LABOR RELATIONS EXPERTS. IN SMALL COURTS, HOWEVER, JUDGES OFTEN ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID RELINQUISHING IT TO ANOTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. ONLY ONE STATE, MINNESOTA, HAS HAD A STRIKE. TRIALS WERE HELD WITH THE AID OF SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES. EACH IMPACT IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)