THE PROPENSITY TO STRIKE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

JAMES L. STERN AND CRAIG OLSON

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DOI: 10.2190/9622-RTER-XQT0-KY81

Abstract

Using relatively new government data about strikes by local government employees, the authors calculate fifteen different propensities to strike (PTSs) of these employees under different circumstances. These include PTSs by occupational group, state, and whether there was a bargaining law without arbitration, a law with arbitration, or no bargaining law. A rough estimating procedure was constructed in order to calculate some of the PTSs because the government does not directly measure strikes by contract status for each occupational group. It is recommended the government collect this statistic. A major finding of the study is that the propensity to strike during contract negotiations is lowest where there is an arbitration statute, highest where there is no bargaining law, and in between in states with a bargaining law that does not mandate arbitration.

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