Laws Allowing Local Government Employee Unions and Collective Bargaining have Promoted Corruption

by Michael D. Robbins
Director, Public Safety Project, PublicSafetyProject.org

September 27, 2010

Public Employee Unions and Corruption

The laws that allow public employees to form unions and engage in collective bargaining have created an inherent and unavoidable conflict of interest, and massive political corruption that is driving cities, counties, and states towards bankruptcy. Public employee labor unions, especially firefighters, police, school teachers, and nurses, provide campaign support to help elect the politicians who will be their bosses and determine the terms of their labor contracts, including salaries, benefits, and pensions, and/or determine the laws that govern their labor contracts.

The Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) of 1968

The Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) of 1968 allows local government employee unions and collective bargaining. It established collective bargaining for California’s municipal, county, and local special district employers and employees. It is administered by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). It was brought under PERB’s jurisdiction pursuant to Senate Bill 739 (Chapter 901, Statutes of 2000), effective July 1, 2001. PERB’s jurisdiction over the MMBA excludes peace officers, management employees and the City and County of Los Angeles. PERB is a quasi-judicial agency which oversees public sector collective bargaining in California. PERB administers seven California collective bargaining statutes, ensures their consistent implementation and application, and adjudicates disputes between the parties subject to them.