Study looks at Unions and Public Pension Benefits.

An issue brief from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, Unions and Public Pension Benefits, looks at the role of union power in the benefit levels provided by public pensions. Key findings are:

* Union strength appears to have no impact on the level or growth of benefits. Because pensions are legislated, not bargained, lobbying expertise may be more important than union size.

* In contrast, union strength does seem to raise employees' wages. Because wages are determined through collective bargaining, union numbers appear to matter.

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