I was a union rep for a suburban PD and we had the same issues with the infighting. Eventually you get tired of fighting the good fight when your peer group doesn't have the brains or the balls to educate themselves and they follow the biggest bully because they have zero courage. They are always willing to let the biggest mouth, and the biggest thorn in the brass' side (which is often counter-productive), lead them off the cliff. Then once you throw in the towel your peers come to you, hat in hand, and have regrets, wishing they had done things differently. At least when you walk away after trying to do the right thing you can hold your head high, all the while shaking it side-to-side. Great article as usual!
Exactly how I felt about the three different unions I was in at Metra. Every single one was pretty much worthless. There was not much fight, not much energy, little union camaraderie and zero support from above. It became a case of leadership enjoying the power and never ruffling feathers, while maintaining their union salaries. It really soured me on unions in general. I always thought maybe the cops were a little better off, but you set me straight. They all seem the same with the same MO.
Fascinating backstory!
I was a union rep for a suburban PD and we had the same issues with the infighting. Eventually you get tired of fighting the good fight when your peer group doesn't have the brains or the balls to educate themselves and they follow the biggest bully because they have zero courage. They are always willing to let the biggest mouth, and the biggest thorn in the brass' side (which is often counter-productive), lead them off the cliff. Then once you throw in the towel your peers come to you, hat in hand, and have regrets, wishing they had done things differently. At least when you walk away after trying to do the right thing you can hold your head high, all the while shaking it side-to-side. Great article as usual!
Exactly how I felt about the three different unions I was in at Metra. Every single one was pretty much worthless. There was not much fight, not much energy, little union camaraderie and zero support from above. It became a case of leadership enjoying the power and never ruffling feathers, while maintaining their union salaries. It really soured me on unions in general. I always thought maybe the cops were a little better off, but you set me straight. They all seem the same with the same MO.