NCJ Number
87047
Date Published
1981
Length
90 pages
Annotation
A survey of 140 police collective bargaining agreements from more than 100 jurisdictions nationwide provides examples of state-of-the-art contract language for 17 key issues. This analysis investigates implications for management decisionmaking.
Abstract
The study considers how various jurisdictions have tried to balance management and labor interests in delivering police services and examines whether the contract language found in almost all police collective bargaining agreements unduly limits the legitimate prerogatives of police managers. The analysis indicates the inadequacies of some clauses, the dangers of others, and the merits of more preferable language. For important subjects, variations in clauses are rank-ordered by preference. The clauses studied address management rights, maintenance of standards, grievance procedures, discipline and the police officer's bill of rights, civil service and third-party entities, staffing requirements, reductions in force, seniority, transfers and assignments, sick leave, cost-of-living adjustments, and education and training. The study also looks at clauses for subcontracting and investigates no-strike, zipper (stating that the executed agreement is the sole agreement between parties), and duration and reopener clauses. Case citations and about 60 references are provided. In addition, a chart provides information on key clauses for all jurisdictions studied.