Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-swr86 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-24T09:52:25.389Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

3 - In Defense of Public Sector Unionization

from Third Essay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2020

Mark R. Reiff
Affiliation:
University of California, Davis
Get access

Summary

This essay addresses those aspects of the anti-union argument that focus exclusively on the public sector. First, the claim that the public sector is different than the private sector and whatever reasons we may have to support unionization in the latter do not apply in the former. Second, the claim that public sector unionization increases the size of government, yet government is already far too big. Third, the claim that because public employees provide essential services, public sector unions can extort excessive salaries and benefits out of government. Fourth, the claim that public sector unionization undermines democracy, for it gives public employees undue influence in the electoral process. Fifth, the claim that regardless of whether unionization of the public sector is good for public employees, it is bankrupting the rest of us. And finally, the claim that even if public sector unionization is permissible, workers must be free to refuse to join, and forcing those who do not join to pay dues in any form would be an unconstitutional form of compelled speech. In response, I show that each of these claims are wrong not only on the facts but more importantly on the underlying moral claims they invoke.

Type
Chapter
Information
In the Name of Liberty
The Argument for Universal Unionization
, pp. 169 - 238
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×