As any public sector employee will say, working for the government differs in many significant ways from working in the private sector. Most government workers are prohibited from striking and many are dependent on the legislature or general public for wage increases. Working in near monopolies, they do not face the forces of a competitive market, but do confront pressures from politicians, the electorate, and citizens' groups.

Labor authority Morris A. Horowitz describes the differences between labor relations in the public and private sectors and offers a brief history of public sector collective bargaining. The book continues with thorough explanations and useful examples of the key issues in public sector collective bargaining: wages, monetary fringe benefits, nonmonetary provisions, dispute resolution, and public intervention.

Union officials, employee representatives, arbitrators, and human resource professionals who work with the 18.5 million local, state, and federal government employees will find this an essential guide in their negotiations. Instructors and students of employee relations will find Horowitz's studies and probing questions a useful tool for understanding union leaders' and public officials' decision making process.