NCJ Number
17457
Date Published
1974
Length
237 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF THE RECENT EVOLUTION OF POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN THE CITIES OF NEW YORK, DETROIT, AND ATLANTA THROUGH THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CONTEXT IN WHICH POLICE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS TAKE PLACE.
Abstract
THE FIRST CASE STUDY INVESTIGATES THE TRANSFORMATION OF NEW YORK'S PATROLMENS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION (PBA) INTO A DE FACTO UNION, DESPITE THE DETERMINED OPPOSITION OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. IN PARTICULAR, IT LOOKS AT THE ROLE OF LABOR LEADERS, THE MAYOR, AND OTHER UNIONS IN THIS PROCESS. THE SECOND CASE, ALSO OF NEW YORK'S PBA, EXPLORES THE EFFECT OF THE GROWING LABOR ASSOCIATION ON MANAGEMENT'S EFFORTS TO CHANGE DEPARTMENT PRACTICES AND WORK RULES. THE THIRD ILLUMINATES AN INSTANCE OF POLICE RANK-AND-FILE MILITANCE, THE 'BLUE FLU' OR JOB ACTION, IN DETROIT IN 1967, AND THE EFFECT THAT HAD BOTH ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DETROIT POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (DPOA) INTO AN EFFECTIVE UNION AND ON THE MAYOR'S POWER TO DETERMINE THE CITY BUDGET. THE FOURTH AND FINAL CASE EXEMPLIFIES THE IMPACT OF THE UNIONIZATION MOVEMENT ON NON-UNIONIZED DEPARTMENTS: EVEN IN ATLANTA, WITH ITS ANTI-LABOR HISTORY AND ITS ANTAGONISTIC CHIEF, THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE FIRST FUMBLING STEPS TOWARD UNIONIZATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)