Managing of Police Organizations and Unions

Managing of Police Organizations discusses unionization of criminal justice employees. What are the benefits of Unionization? What are the drawbacks? What is YOUR personal opinion concerning criminal justice unionization?

The Police Labor Union basically means workers enjoy higher wages, better benefits and pensions. Police or union members also have greater job security than workers who don't have a union. In almost every industry union workers fare better than non-union workers performing the same type of jobs.

There is now in place a Public Safety Officers' Procedural Bill of Rights. So called right to work states, where laws drafted by big business friendly politicians have weakened union strength. This is a result of legislation that was deceptively titled and pitched as a benefit for workers, much like the Worker paycheck protection bills currently being drafted in several states, which cripple unions ability to involve themselves in politics.

Unions mean having a voice in the job of an officer and making sure the officers are treated fairly and decently at work. With a union you don't have to stand alone. A union means workers have the strength to protect themselves and improve their work lives. It seems that when workers have a voice and are treated with respect, they are also inclined to put more of themselves into their job. Union representation has proven to be better for workers and the workplace itself. A unionized workplace is a better place to work. It is safer and pays better, and provides workers with a voice to management with the muscle to back it up.

In addition to providing wage increases, a union contract establishes a grievance procedure so employees can address problems at the workplace without fear of reprisal. Unions also make sure that there are certain issues put in writing such as vacation time, holidays and bereavement leave and an agreement that a health and safety committee will be established.

The drawbacks to a union can be that communication between officers and management can be strained at times. If upper management knows that if they do something the officer doesn't like or agree with that they officer is going to go straight to their union, it makes for a tough situation. In Texas, there are no unions that we can be a part of.

My personal opinion is that I would be in favor of being in a union. I have never been in a union during any of my jobs. It would be nice to know that there is another organization working towards my best interest. I think about the current situation that I am in with my appeal with my last employer and I wish that Texas had a union for State employees because I would have used them in a heartbeat. Although I do understand the strain that can be put between management and officers, I really wouldn't be concerned with that. The reason would be that if management does the job they were hired to do and the officers do the job they were hired to do, then everything will be fine. If not, the union may have to get involved.