Employer Research
As part of your preparation for bargaining, you also want to be knowledgeable about your employer’s real financial status. If you work for a private-sector employer, consult the Corporate Research chapter of this manual. For public-sector workers, the budget of your jurisdiction or agency is generally a matter of public record and is often posted on the employer’s Web site. Go to “State and Local Governments on the Net” to find the Web site for your jurisdiction.
Once you have a copy of the budget, these publications can help you analyze it:
Knowing the Numbers: A Guide to Public Budget Analysis
For comparative public-sector financial data, go to:
Census Bureau: Federal, State, and Local Governments
This site offers data on government employment and payroll, finance, tax revenue, and public employee retirement systems.
National Association of State Budget Officers
NASBO produces a number of useful reports, particularly the Fiscal Survey of the States. Their “Budget Processes in the States” can be helpful for union activists who want to take a proactive approach and make sure that their state passes a budget that favors public employees.
National Conference of State Legislatures
The NCSL reports that are most useful for monitoring the fiscal condition of your state government are State Fiscal Outlook and State Budget and Tax Actions. The hyperlink will default to the opening screen but just click on “Public User” and it will take you there.
