THE IMPACT OF UNION STATUS ON GENERAL EMPLOYEE MUNICIPAL PENSION PLANS IN FLORIDA

MURRAY E. COHEN AND CYNTHIA F. COHEN

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DOI: 10.2190/PDW5-FEV0-YMFG-YE8X

Abstract

This article examines the relationship of union status and pension plan coverage for general municipal employees in the State of Florida. Studies have indicated a number of union effects on pay and benefits and there is reason to expect that unionized employees will be more likely to have pension plan coverage and that defined benefit plans will be more likely than defined contribution plans. Data from the State of Florida Division of Retirement and the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission were merged and analyzed. Municipalities with unionized general employees are more likely to provide pension plans and to have defined benefit pension plans than municipalities with nonunionized general employees. There also appears to be a union spillover effect when general employees are nonunionized, but there is a police or fire union in the same municipality.

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