Some reforms I propose to rein in police unions. I oppose special rights for police.

[bluestateguy]

Police union membership shall be voluntary. Payment of dues shall also be voluntary.

Police unions may not collectively bargain for raises exceeding the rate of inflation (the CPI).

[Oktober]

1. It's amazing how union rights go out the window...

... when it's for someone else.

Also, I'm sure that you'll ensure a higher caliber of candidate by imposing limits on pay. Really thought that one through did you?

Amazing..

[sharp_stick]

3. I think that was the point of the post

ex: Police unions in Wisconsin did nothing to help stop Governor shithead from taking away collective bargaining rights to public sector employees except the cops.

[Oktober]

6. I don't think so...

I think OP finds police distasteful and wants them to hurt them...

[sharp_stick]

7. That's possible too

I just noticed that his language was pretty much identical to the language that "right to work" States use to crush unions.

[Logical]

11. Police unions hide and protect bad cops.....

The difference is that normal unions dont have the authority to beat people or kill them.
And i doubt most normal unions post bail for members who break the law.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Actually most Police Unions it is voluntary

from what we understand, or at least in my state. Most cops join anyway, because it is a smart thing to do.

As to bargaining, careful there, because once you do that with public safety unions, it will be that much easier to do it with your maintenance workers.

If you happen to be in my city... that has already been done.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. How are those going to actually do anything useful in terms of reforming police behaviour?

I oppose special rights for police as well, but those are normal union issues, not 'police' issues.

You want to strip away 'special' rights, get rid of 'qualified immunity' and treat police like you do medical workers, who can be sued personally for malpractice in addition to being open to criminal charges.

[geek tragedy]

5. pay isn't the issue. Their insistence on being above the law and beyond accountability

is the problem.

Pay them well. Take away all of their excessive legal privileges.

[NCTraveler]

8. I stand one hundred percent against this.

I am pro-union.

[Taitertots]

9. Unproductive. We need...

Citizen oversight boards with the authority to write search warrants, make arrests, and press charges.

[LoveIsNow]

10. That's ridiculous.

You get the right to fight for your pay to be worth the same as last year? But maybe if you don't fight hard enough, it just stagnates? No one deserves that.

The issue isn't the unions bargaining over wages and benefits. It is that the unions are keeping bad cops on the force.

A more logical fix would be to take away the union's say in retention, and set up an independent board which investigates complaints, and can take substantive punitive action (up to and including dismissal) against cops who break rules.