NCJ Number
47268
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 73-78
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CHALLENGES TO POLICE MANAGEMENT PRESENTED BY POLICE UNIONIZATION ARE CONSIDERED, AND TRENDS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE MANAGEMENT AND POLICE UNIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HAS STATED THAT POLICE ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE NATIONWIDE TRENDS TOWARD FORMAL UNION-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS AND THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAVE THE SAME RIGHT AS OTHER CITIZENS TO JOIN TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THEIR WAGES, HOURS, AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. LABOR-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS, RATHER THAN WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS, HAVE BECOME THE PRIMARY INPUT INTO THE POLICE MANAGER'S DECISIONS REGARDING MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONS. POLICE MANAGERS NEED TO MODIFY THEIR RIGID STANCE AGAINST POLICE UNIONS, A STANCE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO THAT TAKEN BY INDUSTRY IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN BY POLICE MANAGERS IN DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH POLICE UNIONS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE UNIONISM IS TRACED. BARGAINING TACTICS EMPLOYED BY POLICE UNIONS ARE NOTED, AS ARE THE COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING PROVISIONS OF THE TAFT HARTLEY ACT. THE NEED TO INCLUDE MECHANISMS FOR IMPASSE RECOGNITION AND RESOLUTION IN CONTRACTS BETWEEN POLICE MANAGEMENT AND POLICE UNIONS IS STRESSED. (LKM)