Differences in Public and Private Sector Labor Relations

In the case study I am asked the major differences between public and private sector labor relations. Throughout my research I will use the text along with outside sources to help in finding the significant differences between the two. Furthermore as outlined in the text of (Holley, Jennings, & Wolters, 2012) have indicated some of the major differences between public and private sector including the market economy such as the relationship between the budget and the bargaining process, employee rights and obligations, and collective bargaining structures and decision making processes. Furthermore, we must consider the differences within dispute resolution between private and public sector labor relations.

As stated in (State Budget Solutions,

In particular public sector grievances are generally not settled at the first step but tend to be settled at the second and third step unlike the private sector (Holley, Jennings, & Wolters, 2012). In private sector labor relations, the right to strike is considered a fundamental bargaining tool in aiding the union to gain leverage for management to break to their demands. In the public sector, in most states strikes are illegal (Holley, Jennings, & Wolters, 2012). In addition prohibit employees from striking when their demands are rejected. Employee recourse is solely through the political process where their demands for higher pay are pitted against the voters ' resistance to increased taxes (Summers, C. 2003). Although private and public sector employees may be disciplined or discharged for events that have happened off duty. To further explain both private and public sector employees retain the right to conduct their private lives the way see they fit and an employer can only discipline employees if there is a nexus between the off duty conduct and the employment. Therefore, public employees are generally under heightened scrutiny for reasons for being in the public eye as being trusted by the public for services such as teacher, fire fighter, police officer, or postal