Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
Police Sector Grows on Strength of Promise
Atrack record of service and success has been the ticket to retaining and increasing membership in CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers. CWA's law enforcement sector recently beat back a decertification attempt in the Tucson (Ariz.) Police Department, to preserve an 800-member unit. Then, on March 3, the Florida Highway Patrol Chapter and State Law Enforcement Chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association voted to affiliate, bringing CWA 2,000 additional members.
Sunshine Sign-Ups Although another union had begun circulating authorization cards to represent their members, the executive boards of both Florida groups chose CWA.
Burpo said Scott Hoffman, president of the State Law Enforcement Officers (Local 3194) and Ed Hotaling, president of the Highway Patrol Officers (Local 3195), both independents, turned to CWA because they recognized the need to be linked to an AFL-CIO union.
"They had seen what we had done for the Florida corrections and probation people," observed John Burpo, NCOPSO-CWA director. "We had assisted them in a situation where they were the bargaining representative but there was a challenge. We helped them in a privatization fight. We've given them some ideas and assistance on organizing. There was a track record of success."
NCOPSO-CWA Local 3192, probation officers, and Local 3191, corrections, comprise one bargaining unit. And, Burpo explained, Local 3193 has represented the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association for about three years. The two units combined represent about 12,000 officers.
"This is a major development for us, because it gives us additional resources and labor expertise," said Burpo. "We are excited about the affiliation."
Vote of Confidence The Tucson Police Officers Association became the foundation of NCOPSO-CWA statewide Local 7077 three years ago, when members first voted to affiliate, 379-330. They wanted more aggressive representation than they had gotten from the Fraternal Order of Police.
With NCOPSO help, said Burpo, "These guys started doing business a totally different way. They talked to business and community groups and got them behind their issues."
Tucson has its own collective bargaining ordinance which allows workers every three years to choose a different representative as contracts expire.
Prior to the new election in February, the city gave its police officers a "terrible raise," said Burpo, which the FOP tried to exploit to win back the members it had lost.
"While the FOP ran a very aggressive campaign," said Burpo, "our members responded to a more personal appeal from their co-workers." Twelve officers and some of their wives spoke on videotape about what the union had done for them.
NCOPSO ran a positive campaign and kept to its original promises: be an aggressive labor organization, bring democracy to the union and fight for greater respect from the city. Burpo said relations with the city have improved and that, since Tucson wants to build a new city hall, there will likely be less resistance to raises for the police.
"The people who voted for us really wanted us to be their representative," Burpo said. The tally of 377-330 was just two votes less than the original vote three years ago.
Sunshine Sign-Ups Although another union had begun circulating authorization cards to represent their members, the executive boards of both Florida groups chose CWA.
Burpo said Scott Hoffman, president of the State Law Enforcement Officers (Local 3194) and Ed Hotaling, president of the Highway Patrol Officers (Local 3195), both independents, turned to CWA because they recognized the need to be linked to an AFL-CIO union.
"They had seen what we had done for the Florida corrections and probation people," observed John Burpo, NCOPSO-CWA director. "We had assisted them in a situation where they were the bargaining representative but there was a challenge. We helped them in a privatization fight. We've given them some ideas and assistance on organizing. There was a track record of success."
NCOPSO-CWA Local 3192, probation officers, and Local 3191, corrections, comprise one bargaining unit. And, Burpo explained, Local 3193 has represented the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association for about three years. The two units combined represent about 12,000 officers.
"This is a major development for us, because it gives us additional resources and labor expertise," said Burpo. "We are excited about the affiliation."
Vote of Confidence The Tucson Police Officers Association became the foundation of NCOPSO-CWA statewide Local 7077 three years ago, when members first voted to affiliate, 379-330. They wanted more aggressive representation than they had gotten from the Fraternal Order of Police.
With NCOPSO help, said Burpo, "These guys started doing business a totally different way. They talked to business and community groups and got them behind their issues."
Tucson has its own collective bargaining ordinance which allows workers every three years to choose a different representative as contracts expire.
Prior to the new election in February, the city gave its police officers a "terrible raise," said Burpo, which the FOP tried to exploit to win back the members it had lost.
"While the FOP ran a very aggressive campaign," said Burpo, "our members responded to a more personal appeal from their co-workers." Twelve officers and some of their wives spoke on videotape about what the union had done for them.
NCOPSO ran a positive campaign and kept to its original promises: be an aggressive labor organization, bring democracy to the union and fight for greater respect from the city. Burpo said relations with the city have improved and that, since Tucson wants to build a new city hall, there will likely be less resistance to raises for the police.
"The people who voted for us really wanted us to be their representative," Burpo said. The tally of 377-330 was just two votes less than the original vote three years ago.