SECURITY UNIONSBackgrounder: Police and Security Unions

Published 15 May 2023

The history of unionizing police officers and security guards in the United States is complex. It spans over a century, and has been shaped by different factors, including changes in the political and economic landscape, shifts in public opinion toward organized labor, and the evolving roles and responsibilities of law enforcement professionals.

The history of unionizing police officers and security guards in the United States is complex. It spans over a century, and has been shaped by different factors, including changes in the political and economic landscape, shifts in public opinion toward organized labor, and the evolving roles and responsibilities of law enforcement professionals.

One of the earliest attempts to unionize police officers occurred in 1918, when the Boston Police Department went on strike. The officers demanded better wages, improved working conditions, and the right to form a union. The strike was eventually resolved, but the police officers were not allowed to form a union until the 1960s.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in unionization among public-sector workers, including police officers and security guards. This was driven largely by the civil rights movement and the push for greater workplace rights and protections. In 1967, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) was officially recognized by the AFL-CIO as a national union representing police officers. The FOP went on to become one of the largest and most influential police unions in the country.

In the 1970s, security guards also began to organize and form unions. Before that, security guards were often low-paid and had little job security or benefits.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a shift toward more conservative economic policies and a decline in unionization rates across the country. This had a significant impact on police and security unions, as many employers began to push back against unionization efforts and implement anti-union policies. Despite these challenges, many police and security unions continued to fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for their members.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in police and security unions, driven in part by what appears as a split: on the one hand, some unions defended officers accused of misconduct, while, on the other hand, other unions were on the forefront of efforts to reform policing and improve accountability.

Overall, the history of unionizing police officers and security guards in the United States reflects the broader trends and struggles of the labor movement. While there have been many setbacks and challenges over the years, unions have played a vital role in improving the lives and working conditions of law enforcement professionals, and they continue to be an important force for change in the field of policing and security.