ABSTRACT
The central government administration sector provides essential public services. In recent years it has been operating under significant budgetary constraints, with governments needing to balance the pressure for cost savings with the demand for quality services. It is expected that government should act as a model employer, providing an example for the private sector, although for some observers the government should imitate more the working practices of the private sector, including less job security, while for others, the traditional exchange between job security and low pay should be continued. It is by no means obvious how unions should respond in a sector that is relatively protected from globalization and in which they enjoy high levels of membership.
