Although it has been heavily used as a guideline, the National Labor Relations Act does not provide any protection to employees in public service, including MCO members. Public service employees are covered by the Public Employees Relations Act. Civil Service employees in the State of Michigan are covered by the Rules of the Civil Service Commission of the State of Michigan. The Civil Service Commission has sole authority to promulgate the rules covering employment for the State and gets that authority from the State Constitution.

These rules are enforced for MCO members by the Michigan Civil Service Commission-appointed Employment Relations Board.