Although in recent years much attention has been paid to affirmative action and the employment patterns of women and minorities in the public sector, there has been little attention placed on union involvement in these employment patterns. This book examines this discrepancy on the premise that although unions in the public sector are important decision makers in the employment of women and minorities, they are overlooked largely because their formal powers tend to be circumscribed due to their operation in the government as opposed to the private sector sphere. The research presented in this book suggests that unions in the public sector often possess de facto power to influence the employment progress of women and minorities in government work forces. Through legal, political and historical frameworks, Riccucci examines the patterns of union involvement and addresses issues that are pertinent to both women and minorities. She provides an up-to-date list of case law as well as current data on the percentage of women and minorities in public sector unions. "Women, minorities and Unions in the Public Sector" aims to fill a gap in the literature on labour relations, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and general personnel administration, making it suitable for students of labour relations, employment rights of women and minorities, human resources development/management, civil rights policy and law and employment discrimination law.