A SURVEY OF PATTERNS OF UNIT COMPOSITION AT PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

JULIA NEWCOMER AND ELVIS C. STEPHENS


DOI: 10.2190/AHNT-MUY7-BMX7-JUHB

Abstract

Collective bargaining in higher education began in 1967, with an agreement between the AFT and Bryant College of Business Administration, in Rhode Island. New York was the first state to pass legislation to allow state higher education institutions to engage in collective bargaining. Presently, some twenty-four states have such laws. This study found much variety in the unit composition - one of the main problems in collective bargaining in higher education. Some state laws spell out the composition, but others allow the matter to be negotiated by the parties. Most states provide for bargaining by both professional and classified employees. Three provide bargaining rights only for community college personnel. Most statutes provide for state labor boards to make final unit determinations, if the parties cannot agree. About 75 per cent of the bargaining units are multicampus unit type. The existence of single or multi-units appears to follow the pattern of higher education governance in the state.

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