STATE CIVIL-SERVICE AND COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING - SYSTEMS IN CONFLICT

What has been the impact of the emergence of public-sector labor relation systems on the legal structure and design of state civil service merit systems? Joel Douglas offers a systematic exploration of that issue through a content analysis of state laws related to both systems. His detailed analysis suggests the development of ''dual personnel systems'' (DPS) in many jurisdictions, and the lack of efforts to integrate the two contradictory systems. In most cases, labor relation systems have become the primary force in public-sector human resource management policies; but Douglas notes that civil service systems remain a factor often times generating problems. He concludes by noting that the two do not ''fit'' together. ''Living with dual personnel systems,'' he argues, ''is an option widely followed yet not recommended.''