I've often wondered why traditional unions never seem to be interested in allying with the Fraternal Order of Police. It seems like a potentially beneficial alliance for both sides.
The cops may have a union, but that doesn't mean they aren't the paid bitches for the man. Unions should stay away from the cops, they are the people who not only crush union members with calvary as in these pics, but have been known to shoot them dead.
But it doesn't have to be that way. That labor treats them like an enemy could help maintain cops' status as enemies of labor. They have a common ground to work from, so why not try to create an alliance?
It is not correct to say that traditional unions aren't interested in allying with the FOP or the police in general. As a union lawyer working with "traditional unions", I am familiar with ongoing efforts on the part of local unionis to maintain good relationships with local police and their unions, and this is, at least sometimes, extremely important in picketing situations. Houston is not a union town, to say the least, and my hunch is those unity efforts between police and the rest of organized labor are not to be found.
Incidentally, under long-standing federal labor law, the National Labor Relations Board will not certify a proposed collective bargaining unit that includes both guards and non-guards. There is an inherent tension between private security personnel and non-security personnel, just as there is an inherent tension between workers serving in a police capacity and the general public.
Let's not condemn all of those who serve in law enforcement; they are working people too.
