NCJ Number
53343
Journal
Police Review Volume: 87 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 1734-1736,1738-1741
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN INQUIRY INTO ATTITUDES TOWARD UNIONISM IN A SINGLE POLICE FORCE IN ENGLAND.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT A DISTINCTION HAS FREQUENTLY BEEN MADE BETWEEN TWO FORMS OF EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION: TRADE UNIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. TRADE UNIONS ARE SAID TO HOLD A CONFLICT IMAGE OF THE WORK ORGANIZATION. USUALLY COMPOSED OF LOWER ECHELON WORKERS WHO HAVE LITTLE POWER WITHIN THE WORK HIERARCHY TO INFLUENCE THEIR PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS, TRADE UNIONS PROVIDE FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION IN WITHHOLDING LABOR TO WIELD POWER. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, ON THE OTHER HAND, REFLECT A CONSENSUS IMAGE OF THE WORK ORGANIZATION AS A RATIONAL SYSTEM WHERE GROUPS ARE DIFFERENTIATED BY TALENT AND EFFORT, AND PERSONAL ADVANCEMENT IS BASED ON PRECISE MERIT STANDARDS. THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO IMPROVE THE INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE GROUP OF PERSONNEL BY CONTROLLING CERTIFICATION AND DEVELOPING THE KNOWLEDGE ON WHICH THIS RESTS. OF THE POLICE FORCE SURVEYED 44 PERCENT FELT THAT POLICE SHOULD BE ORGANIZED IN A SINGLE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION COMPOSED OF ALL RANKS. THIS APPROACH WAS MOST POPULAR WITH ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL AND POLICEWOMEN. SUPPORT FOR A SINGLE ASSOCIATION, HOWEVER, WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED TO A TRADE UNION; 38 PERCENT WANTED THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION TO BE MUCH LIKE A TRADE UNION REPRESENTING ALL RANKS. THOSE OPPOSING TRADE UNIONISM AMONG THE POLICE GENERALLY SAW IT AS VIOLATION OF THE SERVICE PRINCIPLES OF POLICING AND AN IMPORTATION OF UNDESIRABLE AND ALIEN POLITICAL INFLUENCES INTO THE POLICE. OF THE 21 PERCENT OF THE FORCE WHO FAVORED A UNION AGAINST A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, MOST WERE THOSE OF LOWER RANK WHO FELT THEY NEEDED REPRESENTATION AND INCREASED POWER IN DEALING WITH THE SENIOR RANKS WITHIN THE FORCE. OPINIONS WERE ALSO SOLICITED FROM THE FORCE ON THE FOLLOWING UNION ACTIVITIES: MILITANCY IN APPROACH AND MANNER IN NEGOTIATIONS; THE RIGHT-TO-WORK RULE (STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF LAW TO THE LETTER); THE RIGHT TO STRIKE; AND AFFILIATION WITH OTHER TRADE UNIONS. DATA ON RESPONSES IN EACH AREA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)