EXTENT AND NATURE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OF COURT EMPLOYEES IN THE STATES

• NCJ Number: 56958
• Journal: Justice System Journal Volume: 413 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 274-286
• Author(s): J H WEX
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute for Court Management
• Sale Source: Institute for Court Management; William S Hein and Co, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED IS FOR SINGLE ISSUE

Annotation

TO ASSESS THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY COURT EMPLOYEES IN THE STATES, RESEARCHERS SURVEYED JUDGES, ADMINISTRATORS, AND LABOR OFFICIALS AND EXAMINED A NUMBER OF COURT EMPLOYEE UNION CONTRACTS.

Abstract

QUESTIONNAIRES WERE MAILED TO THE COMBINED MEMBERSHIP OF THE TWO MAJOR NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF COURT ADMINISTRATORS, THE CONFERENCE OF STATE COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND THE NATIONAL TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATORS. IN ADDITION, INFORMATION WAS GATHERED THROUGH INDEPTH INTERVIEWS IN SEVEN STATES. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT COURT EMPLOYEES IN 17 STATES ARE CURRENTLY ORGANIZED FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. HOWEVER, THERE IS WIDE DISPARITY IN THE EXTENT OF UNIONIZATION, WITH THE FIGURES SHOWING 100 PERCENT AMONG EMPLOYEES IN HAWAII BUT ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENT OF COURT EMPLOYEES IN NEVADA. THERE IS A VARIED PATTERN AMONG COUNTY COURT SYSTEMS. THE EXTENT OF THE GENERAL LABOR FORCE OF A STATE THAT BELONGS TO A UNION IS AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO UNIONIZATION. AN INDEX OF UNIONIZATION, CREATED BY COMBINING THE PERCENTAGE OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES UNIONIZED WITH PERCENTAGE OF STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES UNIONIZED, SHOWS NEW YORK STATE AT THE TOP WITH A SCORE OF 121 AND MISSISSIPPI AT THE BOTTOM WITH A SCORE OF 33. ANOTHER INDICATOR, URBANIZATION, DID APPEAR TO INFLUENCE THE EXTENT OF UNIONIZATION (IN NEW YORK, HAWAII, MICHIGAN, AND NEW JERSEY, WHERE UNIONIZATION IS HEAVIEST, 82.8 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION LIVES IN URBAN AREAS). MANY DIFFERENT JOB CATEGORIES ARE INCLUDED IN COURT BARGAINING UNITS, AND CONTRACTS USUALLY CONTAIN PROVISIONS COVERING SECOND OR PART-TIME JOBS, COURT HOURS, SENIORITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT UNIONIZATION OF COURT EMPLOYEES IS A RESULT OF THE GENERAL GROWTH IN UNIONIZATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE SAME TERMS AS OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONIZATION. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.