Supplemental Notes

NBER Public Sector Collective Bargaining Law Data Set

 

            A number of states' collective bargaining laws contain idiosyncratic features, such as the occurrence of two policy changes in the same year, or limited applicability of a certain law.  This supplement lists such idiosyncrasies as they appear in the data.

 

(1) Alabama.  A 1957 Office of the Attorney General (OAG) decision (month unknown) prohibited collective bargaining for all groups except state employees.  Another OAG decision in June 1957 prohibited strikes.  Both policy changes were coded in the data set as occurring in June 1957 (0657).

 

(2) California (teachers).  Bargaining and mediation provisions changed in July 1976, while union recognition and security provisions changed in April 1976; both changes were coded as occurring in July (0776).

 

(3) Kentucky.  Kentucky's police law applies only to counties with a population of at least 300,000, while its firefighters law applies only to cities with a population of at least 300,000.  Both coded as state policy.

 

(4) Michigan.  Police and firefighters' impasse procedures changed twice in 1973.  The type of arbitration was specified as final offer by issue effective January, and mediation was made mandatory in June. Both changes coded as occurring in June (0673).

 

(5) New Jersey.  This state passed a comprehensive bargaining law effective July 1968, while prohibiting strikes in a case decision sometime during the same year.  All 1968 changes coded as July (0768).

 

(6) Tennessee.  For state employees, bargaining was prohibited in January 1980, while strikes were prohibited in June 1980.  Both changes coded as June 1980 (0680).

 

(7) Texas (teachers).  Dues deduction changed in May 1967, bargaining in August 1967; both changes coded as August 1967 (0867).

 

(8) Utah.  A Right to Work law applicable to public employees became effective May 1955, coded as being in effect from the beginning of the year (0055).

 

(9) Wisconsin.  For state employees, bargaining provisions changed in July 1972, other provisions changed in April 1972; all 1972 changes coded as July 1972 (0772).  Also, note that Wisconsin has an arbitration statute that applies only to Milwaukee police (not coded).