With over 15% of the work force employed on the federal, state and municipal levels - nearly 15 million Americans - this volume fills the crucial need for a concise overview of workers' rights for both students and employees of government. As a result of recent precedent making court decisions, new principles protecting public workers have emerged. Yet, the courts have stopped short of holding that government employees retain every right of workers in general - federal employees may not take as active a role in partisan politics, municipal workers may be required to live within city limits, and restrictions on long hair and dress have been upheld.
This book sifts through the vast labyrinth of law, helps define the freedoms of speech, association, religion, and sexual conduct with respect to government employees, and unpacks the complexities of race and gender discrimination in hiring; the use of loyalty oaths; the right to unionize and strike; and the procedural paths victims of mandatory maternity leaves; seniority systems that disadvantage minorities; and the rights of employees who "blow the whistle" on agency errors, graft and corruption.