Public-Sector Unions: Why FDR Said Collective Bargaining Doesn’t Fit Government

FDR warned public-sector bargaining doesn’t fit government—JFK’s 1962 order recognized federal employee groups; here’s why it still matters.

Clifford Ribner examines public-sector unions and why they differ from the private sector. He spotlights Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1937 warning that traditional collective bargaining “cannot be transplanted into the public service,” Wisconsin’s 1959 state milestone, and President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 Executive Order 10988 recognizing federal employee organizations. He contrasts public vs. private unionization rates, looks at teachers’ unions and pandemic-era school closures, and outlines reforms—from accountability to school choice. Watch more at https://CliffordRibner.com.