NCJ Number
53787
Journal
Police Review Volume: 85 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 1802-1805
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ATTITUDES OF BRITISH POLICE TOWARD TRADE UNIONISM IN GENERAL, TOWARD THE DUTY OF THE POLICE DURING STRIKES, AND TOWARD GREATER UNIONIZATION OF THE POLICE FORCE ARE SURVEYED.
Abstract
THE POLICE FEDERATION CONDUCTED THIS SURVEY AFTER A NUMBER OF LABOR DISPUTES RESULTED IN CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE POLICE. A FEW OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE BRIEFLY REVIEWED. THE SURVEY FOUND THAT ONLY A MINORITY OF POLICEMEN HAD ANY EXPERIENCE OF UNION MEMBERSHIP PRIOR TO JOINING THE FORCE. OF THE 79 PERCENT WHO HAD BEEN IN SOME OUTSIDE JOB BEFORE JOINING THE FORCE, 51 PERCENT HAD NOT BEEN UNION MEMBERS, A FIGURE SIMILAR TO UNION MEMBERSHIP FOR THE WORKING POPULATION GENERALLY. OF THOSE WHO WERE UNION MEMBERS ABOUT HALF HAD BEEN TOTALLY INACTIVE, NEVER GOING TO MEETINGS OR VOTING IN ELECTIONS. THIS, TOO, IS SIMILAR TO FINDINGS FOR WORKERS AS A WHOLE. ABOUT 66 PERCENT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN POLICING A LABOR DISPUTE AND 30 PERCENT CONSIDERED THE ASSIGNMENT TROUBLESOME. ATTITUDES TOWARDS UNIONISM WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN THE GENERAL POPULATION: 79 PERCENT SAID TRADE UNIONS HAD TOO MUCH POWER; MOST FELT UNIONS HAD SERVED A USEFUL PURPOSE IN THE BEGINNING BUT THAT THIS PURPOSE HAD BEEN PERVERTED BY A MINORITY OF COMMUNISTS AND OTHER MILITANTS WHO ABUSED THE APATHY OF THE MAJORITY; STRICT CONTROL OF PICKETS WAS URGED BY 51 PERCENT, ALTHOUGH ONLY 15 PERCENT THOUGHT THIS REQUIRED NEW LEGISLATION AS OPPOSED TO MORE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAW; AND 45 PERCENT FELT THAT THE PRESENT APPROACH TO PICKETS WAS ADEQUATE. QUOTATIONS FROM THE SURVEY ARE GIVEN TO ILLUSTRATE NUANCES OF FEELING. THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT BRITISH POLICE OFFICERS DO NOT WISH THE POLICE FEDERATION TO BECOME MORE LIKE A TRADE UNION. (GLR)