10.2190/72DA-K7AU-H9T9-5M9L 72DAK7AUH9T95M9L 0 A CASE STUDY OF LABOR LAW IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=72DAK7AUH9T95M9L 4 ROBERT N. HORN AND JOSEPH M. TOMKIEWICZ The passage of Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (Act 195) was enthusiastically welcomed by public sector employees. It was perceived by labor as emancipating legislation giving them, for the first time, the right to co-determine with the state wages and working conditions. The legalization of strikes gave labor the potential of meaningful bargaining power with which to achieve goals. However, Act 195 has been emasculated through adverse court decisions. As a result, public employees in Pennsylvania may have to develop alternative strategies in order to achieve some greater control over their work lives. Apparently, they cannot rely solely on the state to act as an impartial mediator between labor management.