What Are the Differences and Similarities Between Public and Private Sector Unions? Include Methods of Organizing, Organization Structure, Legislation, Right to Strike, Reasons Employees Organize, and What the Future Might Hold for Each.
When we speak about unions for example the United Auto Workers, the Teamsters and the Steelworkers I was surprised to learn this week that public employee unions don’t have the same rights. One key difference that makes public different than private unions is that fact that in individual states public sector unions are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. Public sector unions’ rights to strike vary depending on state laws as well as negotiation with state government. While many private sector unions’ right to strike is protected by federal law, the public sector unions are not. There is variation on how unions are able to strike. For example, unions that are operating under the Railway Labor Act must go through a delay period once a contract expires before they are allowed to walk off the job.
Also, when public sector unions do have the right to strike, their employers can threaten to fire them if they do not return to work. An example of this happening was when in 1981, President Reagan let go 11,000 air traffic controllers after they ignored his order to go back on the job. Private sector unions usually have sections of hierarchy within a union from the local to the national level. Most unions also are usually affiliated by a larger organization. Public sector unions often times can be as small as a state-wide union or sometimes as small as regional. In regards to legislation, the primary difference of course briefly stated before is that is that public sector unions do not fall under the NLRA jurisdiction. Some states have explicitly forbidden the right to strike for public sector workers, while those in the private sector, in theory, have the right to strike. When public sector workers do decide to strike, the employer must take the matter to court in attempt to bid the practice. Also some employers have mandatory interest mediation for public safety workers to lighten the possibility of a strike. Although private sector unions have slowly
Also, when public sector unions do have the right to strike, their employers can threaten to fire them if they do not return to work. An example of this happening was when in 1981, President Reagan let go 11,000 air traffic controllers after they ignored his order to go back on the job. Private sector unions usually have sections of hierarchy within a union from the local to the national level. Most unions also are usually affiliated by a larger organization. Public sector unions often times can be as small as a state-wide union or sometimes as small as regional. In regards to legislation, the primary difference of course briefly stated before is that is that public sector unions do not fall under the NLRA jurisdiction. Some states have explicitly forbidden the right to strike for public sector workers, while those in the private sector, in theory, have the right to strike. When public sector workers do decide to strike, the employer must take the matter to court in attempt to bid the practice. Also some employers have mandatory interest mediation for public safety workers to lighten the possibility of a strike. Although private sector unions have slowly