10.2190/38R3-9RAT-XH2D-HNB2 38R39RATXH2DHNB2 0 THE EFFECT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ON WAGE DESPERSION BETWEEN MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=38R39RATXH2DHNB2 4 DANIEL G. GALLAGHER AND PETER A. VEGLAHN This study examines the effect of public sector bargaining on interemployer differences in salaries paid (wage dispersion) for similar jobs or occupations in the state of Iowa over a thirteen-year period. In contrast to the prevailing findings in the private sector, this study fails to identify a clear trend toward salary level compression between municipal employees for similar jobs. In fact, some indications of a relationship between bargaining and increased interemployer differences (dispersion) is evident. However, the results do indicate that size of the municipality and the presence of a common union bargaining agent effect the degree of interemployer wage dispersion over time.