ABSTRACT
Local government is a labor-intensive business in which the delivery of goods and services is dependent on municipal employees—those who work in nonmanagerial positions. The role of municipal employees within city governments has changed dramatically. Municipal employees directly affect the quantity and the quality of city services and the amount of resources available to provide these services. An evaluation of the impact of municipal employees on the capacity of a local government to get things done must address three areas: employee competence, employee motivation, and the extent to which a proper balance exists between management responsibilities and union rights. Flint is a union town. Therefore, it is not surprising to find that municipal employees and their unions have had a significant impact on the performance of its city government. The chapter examines this impact and concludes with a list of opportunities for improving government performance by altering the role of municipal employees and their unions.
