THE REPORT IS BASED UPON THREE QUESTIONNAIRES - A MUNICIPAL SURVEY, A COUNTY POLL, AND A SURVEY OF STATE MANDATING OF LOCAL SALARIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS IS INCLUDED WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR DRIVE FOR RECOGNITION AND REPRESENTATION AND TO THEIR RECENTLY ACQUIRED RELIANCE ON DIRECT ACTION TACTICS. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF STATE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS IS ALSO PRESENTED. THE REPORT CONCLUDES WITH 16 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THREE AREAS - THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, THE ESSENTIALS OF PROPER PUBLIC EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, AND STATE AND FEDERAL MANDATING OF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)