NCJ Number
55854
Journal
Monthly Labor Review Volume: 101 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 10-16
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
DATA ON CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE UNIONISM GATHERED FROM OCTOBER 1975 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1976 IN INTERVIEWS WITH GOVERNMENT AND EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION OFFICIALS IN 16 STATES AND 1 CITY ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS COVERS CATEGORIES OF CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL AND THE NATURE OF THEIR WORK; FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNIQUENESS OF LABOR RELATIONS IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING (E.G., CONFLICT BETWEEN CUSTODIAL AND TREATMENT STAFF, THE PARAMILITARY DECISIONMAKING AND AUTHORITY STRUCTURE IN CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES); AND TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES (LOCAL INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATIONS OF CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES, STATE AND NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS, STATE EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS, NATIONAL LABOR UNIONS). STATE-TO-STATE VARIATIONS IN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE LABOR RELATIONS TAKE PLACE, IN THE RANGE OF MATTERS SUBMITTED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AND IN THE DETERMINATION AND STRUCTURE OF COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING UNITS ARE EXAMINED. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING PROCESS, PARTICULARLY THE PROBLEM OF FRAGMENTED AUTHORITY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BARGAINING TABLE, ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, WHILE THE INCREASINGLY INFLUENTIAL CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN EMPLOYEE'S ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND WORKING CONDITIONS, NOT ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CORRECTIONAL OPERATIONS. EMPLOYEE GROUPS, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMPOSED OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, SOMETIMES HAVE USED THEIR POWER IN WAYS THAT HAVE HINDERED IMPROVEMENTS IN CORRECTIONS. THE MANAGERIAL RESPONSE TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HAS ALSO BEEN A SOURCE OF PROBLEMS. AS BOTH SIDES GAIN EXPERIENCE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE EXPECTED. LEGISLATORS WILL CREATE BETTER LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR PUBLIC-SECTOR LABOR RELATIONS, PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION WILL IMPROVE, AND UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT WILL BECOME MORE SKILLFUL AT WORKING WITHIN THOSE PROCEDURES. THE JURISDICTIONS INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY ARE CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, LOUISIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND NEW YORK CITY. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)