Memphis Police and Firefighters' Strike of 1978 (From Chapter V of Union Violence: The Record and the Response by Courts, Legislatures, and the NLRB, P 122-135, Armand J Thieblot, Jr and Thomas R Haggard -- See NCJ-123938)

• NCJ Number: 123939
• Author(s): A J Thieblot Jr; T R Haggard
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: University of Pennsylvania
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The consequences of both the active and passive aspects of strike violence involving public safety employees are demonstrated by a strike of municipal employees -- principally firefighters, but also police and to some extent garbage collectors -- in Memphis, Tenn., in 1978.

Abstract

After a garbage strike in 1968 in Memphis, the city council passed a resolution authorizing the recognition of other unions of city employees upon a show of majority support within a unit. During the next few years, both firefighters and police organized. When bargaining began for new public employee contracts in 1978, both the firefighters and the police unions had new leadership, and there was a general mistrust of the city's administration. An impasse in the negotiations occurred, and a firefighters strike was followed by a police strike. The firefighters strike was attended by vandalism and numerous acts of arson. The police strike was accompanied by various acts of vandalism and obstruction of police services. In addition to the political consequences, strikes in protective services also impact the social and economic life of the community. Unlike most other public services, police and fire protection cannot easily be replaced during a strike. Strikes by police and firefighters are too devastating to the community to be tolerated.