10.2190/9U9E-BCRK-RVHF-C637 9U9EBCRKRVHFC637 0 PRODUCTIVITY AND JOB SECURITY: THE ISSUES OF THE 1980'S IN U.S. PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR RELATIONS 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=9U9EBCRKRVHFC637 2 GEORGE T. SULZNER The paper focuses on the factors that affect productivity positively and negatively and indicate why in the public sector during the next decade, productivity growth will be modest. Attention will be directed to the union role in productivity increases and explanations given for the limited prospects of significant impact from them in this area. The second portion of the paper examines the issue of retrenchment of government employees and how contractual provisions in government labor relations agreements address these problems. The influence of contractual management rights provisions on union efforts to participate in decisions related to productivity and job security in the public sector is emphasized.