POLICE OFFICERS AS UNIONISTS - THE POLICE LABOR MOVEMENT (FROM ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM - AN INTRODUCTION, 1977, BY DONALD T. SHANAHAN - SEE NCJ-40835)

• NCJ Number: 40842
• Author(s): P FEUILLE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Holbrook Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE CONSIDERS SEVERAL ASPECTS OF POLICE UNION/ MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF THE KINDS OF ISSUES OVER WHICH POLICE UNIONS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE.

Abstract

ISSUES OVER WHICH POLICE UNIONS HAVE SOUGHT A VOICE INCLUDE INCREASES IN BASE SALARIES, PREMIUM PAY, AND ECONOMIC FRINGE BENEFITS; MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT; DISCIPLINE; GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES; THE USE OF FORCE; CIVILIAN REVIEW; THE OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND CORRUPTION. THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLES OF PROCESSES BY WHICH UNIONS HAVE TRIED TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS ARE EFFORTS TO SECURE FAVORABLE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION LEGISLATION. POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RELATIONSHIPS ARE VERY SITUATIONAL, PRAGMATIC, ISSUE-ORIENTED, AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS THE ACTORS INVOLVED CHANGE. WHILE THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN POLICE BARGAINING AND OTHER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RELATIONSHIPS, THE POLICE BARGAINING SYSTEMS ALSO HAVE ADAPTED TO THE UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE POLICE INDUSTRY, (E.G., LOCAL CONTROL, A BAN ON STRIKES, THE ROLE OF DISCIPLINE, ETC.) AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. ALTHOUGH POLICE UNIONS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE OVER SEVERAL ISSUES THAT RELATE TO THE PROFESSIONALIZATION PROCESS AND TO THE QUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS, THERE SEEMS TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GOALS POLICE UNIONS MUST PURSUE IN THEIR ROLE AS EMPLOYEE SELF-HELP ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE OBJECTIVES WHICH WOULD FURTHER THE OCCUPATION'S QUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL STATUS AND ITS CONCOMITANT PERQUISITES....ELW