Appropriate bargaining units for state employees: Potential impacts for labor relations and public administration

This article reviews the literature and empirically examines the long-held assumption that occupational bargaining units for state employees are more appropriate and more in the public interest than are departmental units. The payroll records of Michigan state employees were analyzed on six demographic and organizational variables to test five hypotheses concerning the greater appropriateness of departmental units. Four of the five hypotheses supported the greater appropriateness of departmental units. In addition, because the mean highest job level in departmental units was significantly greater than in occupational units, career mobility and affirmative action programs for employees within occupations were more severely limited. Smith is now with General Motors Corporation. The authors wish to thank Harold Angle, James Perry, and especially Lizabeth Barclay for their helpful comments.