PUBLIC PRESENCE AT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: EFFECTS ON PROCESS AND DECISIONS IN FLORIDA

RICHARD C. FEIOCK AND JONATHAN P. WEST

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DOI: 10.2190/DUT2-HDU0-QB46-M232

Abstract

Several studies of state sunshine bargaining requirements have focused on the negative consequences that public presence is thought to have on collective bargaining. Purported negative impacts on the bargaining process include making the process more time-consuming, making compromise more difficult, and restricting dialogue. It has also been asserted that public presence has detrimental effects on the outputs of the bargaining process (e.g., decisions, impasses). Nevertheless, systematic empirical research is lacking with regard to these effects. The lack of attention given to identifying the consequences of public presence for bargaining process and outputs is unfortunate in that resistance to open bargaining is largely based upon the assumption that these negative effects are indeed present. The research presented here begins to fill this research gap by examining the perceived consequences for output and process of public presence at bargaining in the State of Florida.

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