NCJ Number
81918
Date Published
1980
Length
133 pages
Annotation
This study analyzes the scope, nature, and procedures in grievance clauses of police collective bargaining agreements to determine relationships between types of grievance procedures and police union and department characteristics.
Abstract
A total of 289 law enforcement bargaining agreements and the grievance process in each were analyzed. The agreements were collected through a mail survey of 677 law enforcement agencies that yielded a return rate of 73.6 percent. A total of 324 of the responding agencies indicated their agency participated in collective bargaining, and 289 current collective bargaining agreements were used in the study. Ten variables associated with the grievance process were analyzed for significant relationships and pertinent factors. Typologies were developed to categorize the grievance procedure and the scope of grievance topics. Grievance scope was divided into six categories built around the concepts of negotiated issues, administrative actions, and adverse personnel actions. Slightly over one-half of the grievance procedures studied limit grievances to negotiated issues, while nearly one-fourth permit almost any issue to be the subject of a formal grievance. In addition to discovering relationships between the three variables encompassing the attributes of the grievance process, all three were found to be closely related to the variables of geographical location, LEAA region, and census region. The findings also indicate a relationship between the type of law enforcement agency (State, county, or municipal), the type of labor organization, and grievance procedures. Possible explanations for the findings and recommendations for future research are provided. A bibliography contains about 60 listings, and tabular data are provided. For other volumes in this series on the Criminal Justice Human Resources Planning Project, see NCJ 81727, NCJ 81914-81917, and NCJ 81919-21.