The Case Against Public Sector Unions

Flashcards about the case against public sector unions, covering topics such as structural insolvency, union influence, and political dynamics.

Structural Insolvency

When state and local governments face significant financial difficulties due to bloated public sectors and public pension obligations.

Public Sector Union Influence

The ability of public employee unions to heavily influence and gain benefits at the expense of the public through early retirement, job tenure, high wages, and generous pension plans.

Pernicious Effect of Union Privileges

The negative impact of public sector union privileges on the provision of public goods, distorting state spending priorities and hindering innovative public services that benefit the citizenry.

Public Employee Union Privileges

Rights such as the ability to strike, collectively bargain, seek binding arbitration, and collect dues, which public employee unions use to defend their rewards and block innovation.

Ossification of Government

Circumstances where entrenched impediments to government innovation hinder the beneficial competition among jurisdictions in the federal system.

Civil Service Statutes

Civil service statutes provide job security and protection from arbitrary decisions, mitigating the need for additional union protection in the public sector.

Government's Ability to 'Raise Prices'

State and local governments can raise taxes or worsen services to increase revenue, facing less stringent controls from financial markets compared to private companies.

Intangible Benefits of Public Employment

The advantage gained through early retirement, healthcare, fewer working hours and pension plans. Focus is placed on these because they are less transparent than direct compensation.

Political Dynamics of Public Sector Unions

Citizens are represented by elected officials who often receive campaign contributions from public sector unions, leading to potential exploitation of taxpayers.

Legal Privilege of Assessing Dues

A privilege enjoyed by most public sector unions enabling them to collect dues from members, enhancing their political influence and effectiveness.

Distortion of Public Education

A result of union influence leading to difficulties firing bad teachers and a focus on seniority and tenure rather than productivity-based pay.

Influence on Penal Policy

Correction officer's unions push for longer sentences and more prisons, influencing penal policy and inhibiting alternative, cost-effective approaches to law enforcement.

Impeding Progressive Experiments

The ability of unions to impede the ability of governors to use states as laboratories for progressive experiments.

Patronage System

A system that could lead to the same problems created by public sector unions by undermining the quality of public services and leading to excessive wages and benefits.

Reaction to the Crisis

By cutting salaries and curbing pension benefits for new workers, real structural change cannot be achieved.