ANALYSIS OF ARBITRATED EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE CASES IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS

HELEN LAVAN AND CAMERON CARLEY


DOI: 10.2190/4UGN-582G-FYHY-JJ5E

Abstract

The case characteristics of sixty-four grievance cases of police employees were examined. Some distinctive features of these cases include the grievant possibly having the support of his or her supervisor, the simultaneous existence of other "judicial" procedures and the high proportion of cases in which the individual wins. Some case characteristics made a difference in other case characteristics, including having the complaint initiated by the public, having the situation precipitating the grievance arise while the officer was off-duty, and having the case heard by a panel of arbitrators. Neither having a state bargaining law nor having the individual represented by a attorney made much of a difference. Recommendations for both parties in the collective bargaining process include: 1) more comprehensive coverage of all issues in the contract; 2) specification of officers' required behaviors both on-and off-duty; 3) delineation of what issues go to arbitration vs. other "judicial" procedures; and 4) identification of when supervisor's support is appropriate.

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