The Case for Abolishing Police Unions

That isn't true at All. The reason the Unions even came into being and are badly still needed is because of the abuse of Management. Even a segment of a Management course I took as part of the USAF Senior NCO Academy, right in the textbook it stated 85% of Labor problems ARE directly attributed to the Management. In addition to My Military as a Civilian Police Officer I held elected positions in the Police Union Local as well as at the State Council for that same union. Both in court and also in front of the State Board or Labor and Industries most the time the abuse by the Municipal management as well as that of the Police Departments in which the Chief of Police was found at fault and the Cases against the officers were not only dismissed, there was often full back pay and even damages that had to be paid by the City or Town involved. While I was on the State Council three Police Chiefs were terminated from their jobs as a result of the Chief wrongdoing Some other Police Chiefs were reprimanded on the record by the hearing authority from the State Government.

There are of course Police Officers Who never should have held the job and were criminally prosecuted for things such as for example rape, Murder or other crimes often it was more a case of sometimes at least keeping them out of jail depending on the crime of course. Often their job could not be saved nor did the Union even attempt to do so. I sat on the Executive Board at the State Council of the Union to decide along with the other members of that board to what level that Officer could be represented and to what level it could be taken even on appeal it that were needed. We were there to protect all the Police Officers from management abuses NOT stand up for low performers. Most Police jobs also had a probationary period (usually one year, sometimes longer) which Officers could be separated if they were deemed unsuitable for further employment by the Management which was the time to weed out those people. Others that did commit acts for which they should be terminated and their job often couldn't be saved and shouldn't be saved at least insure the legal representation they were entitled to.

I also had served in Management capacity with as many as 350 people under My supervision so had experience from both Labor and a Management approach. Yes, I did have employees I had terminated for just cause. None of those I terminated were ever reinstated. There is a big difference from the and abuse of power and setting Yourself up like small monarchy in Your own Kingdom Also the Union, like a Lawyer would does have an obligation to defend its members within the Administrative or legal process at least to a reasonable level. The Union did have Attorney's at Law to represent their Members in these proceedings.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter We will have to agree to disagree. Management structures vary greatly but most companies have an HR department and a grievance process for problem resolution. Outside of the grievance process there are state and federal statutes protecting workers as well as a robust legal system. I I have worked both union and non union positions as well as management positions supervising multiple groups of both management and union employees. After 22 years I can tell you I have never had a grievance or an issue with someone that did their job. The union is there to protect the lowest performers and take their cut. My highest performing union employees would tell you that unions actually hurt top employees. A few of the many complaints that I have heard about unions are dues, seniority issues when it comes to training, promotion,assignments and striking during contract negotiations.

Both my parents were in unions (FOP and Teachers) and they would have told you that in most cases unions have outlived their purpose.

TSgt Jack Oberholtzer - i would agree some employers do a far better job handling their employees. There are workplaces that don't need unions and reject the concept when they aren't needed. Those place tend to be fair with and respect their employees and the respect is returned. I can think of some companies that are good example of that. I have seen abuses however from both Unions and Management Yes they exist for both. Most My Union experience has been in the public service arena and the abuses by Management were often extreme and without just cause. You are correct about State and Feral statues and that is a remedy to many of the abuses which do happen especially with employees that have no one to look out for them. That does provide a fail and impartial remedy. Many contracts also have binding arbitration to which both sides agree to abide by whatever decision is reached by the Arbitrator whom both sides agree on the choice of that person to hear the case as well. (American Arbitration Association is one source of these Arbitrators) I've seen these abuse and one Police Chief with 19 out of 19 cases taken out on Him by the union and head by the State the officials at that level ruled against the Chief and clearly stated He was wrong and in Violation of the law. Without the Union's many of the raises, employee rights etc would either nob or get abused. I have seen Unions that I felt served no useful, purpose and could say the same about some in management but in neither case is that everybody but there are enough to raise a concern. I believe the Unions are still badly need in some venues and Do have a purpose which I have sen demonstrated over and over again.

Thank You for Your viewpoint and You did point out some things that do certainly help protect the employees with a remedy when things do go wrong as they sometimes do. Depending on the cast of characters sometimes things do get more complicated than they should have and if a worker didn't have to experience that, well that's good. My Two late Grandparent were however at very high Management positions in very large companies and certainly know about abuses from some Union "Goons" which do still exist. In labor disputes, In My duties as a Police Officer I have arrested some of those type of Union "Goons" and they did get sent to jail in some cases. Some were from their local, some were outside agitators. Our Police Department did have an International Police Union of which We were members but We were there to keep the peace, NOT to take sides. I base My opinions mostly My first hand experience as not only a Union member but elected Union official. I do know however not all Unions are of equal value or ethics and their ARE some so called Police Unions I wouldn't want anything to do with. I didn't belong to one of those and unlike some ALL our elected Officers were serving Police Officers.