NCJ Number
58299
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
MANAGEMENT AND LABOR PERSPECTIVES ON POLICE STRIKES AND JOB ACTIONS ARE PRESENTED BY PARTICIPANTS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WORKSHOP.
Abstract
THE POLICE CHIEF OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., OUTLINES THE CAUSES OF POLICE STRIKES, NOTING THAT STRIKES OFTEN ARE THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF MINOR IRRITATIONS AND FRUSTRATIONS ON THE PART OF THE OFFICERS. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE DIFFICULT ROLE OF THE POLICE ADMINISTRATOR, WHO OFTEN MUST STAND BY AS UNION LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS MEET HEAD-ON, AND THEN PULL THE DEPARTMENT BACK TOGETHER ONCE THE STRIKE IS SETTLED. POLICE EXECUTIVES ARE URGED TO COOPERATE WITH ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS IN DEVELOPING CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR STRIKES AND JOB ACTIONS; TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS MAY JOIN STRIKING PATROL OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES; TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO OFFICERS THAT VANDALISM OR OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS DURING STRIKES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF TRAINING PROGRAMS IN LABOR RELATIONS; AND TO KEEP CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION WITH LABOR LEADERS OPEN. A TUCSON, ARIZ., POLICE OFFICER WHO PARTICIPATED IN A JOINT STRIKE BY POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS IN TUCSON DESCRIBES THE CONFRONTATIONS THAT LED TO THE STRIKE AND THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED. WAYS IN WHICH THE STRIKE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED (E.G., BETTER NEGOTIATION SKILLS ON THE PART OF CITY OFFICIALS AND POLICE ADMINISTRATORS, MORE PUBLIC INTEREST, WILLINGNESS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT TO POLITICIZE THE SITUATION) ARE DISCUSSED. THE OFFICER NOTES THAT BINDING ARBITRATION WITH A STRONG ANTISTRIKE CLAUSE IS THE BEST MEANS OF PREVENTING STRIKES. THE OFFICER ALSO EXPLAINS THAT THE TUCSON STRIKERS DID NOT VIEW THEIR ACTION AS AN ATTEMPT TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC AND FELT THAT A STRIKE WAS THE ONLY AVENUE OPEN TO THEM. (LKM)