COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERAL MERIT SYSTEM OF HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION

GEORGE MUNCHUS III


DOI: 10.2190/B8DW-9RCN-99EW-A5JG

Abstract

The growth of labor unions in the federal sector has cased concern about the future of the merit system in human resource administration. Although it is widely criticized in practice, the merit system remains a valid goal, strongly supported by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. However, there is concern among federal sector managers that the merit concept will be bargained away in practice. After reviewing the available literature and holding an indepth survey discussion with several local union AFGE (federal sector) members and their respective presidents, several conclusions emerged. The merit system will survive and, in some areas, improvements will be made by the presence of labor unions and the collective bargaining process.

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