The Appropriate Unit Question in the Public Service: The Problem of Proliferation

The purpose of this Article is to focus on certain distinguishing aspects of both the problem and the experience in the public sector, and to discuss a possible approach or philosophy for the future. The primary concern here is undue proliferation of units among the large pool of blue-collar and white-collar employees in the public service. No attempt will be made to deal with special groups such as policemen and firemen, in which the unit question is less difficult. Nor will I discuss the unique problems of supervisors and professional employees, such as teachers, which are sufficiently important and complex to require separate treatment.