untry. Instead of using the strike, unions are effective at using their political clout (through contributions to political candidates, among other activities) to gain better working conditions and wages for their employees. Although police work is inherently dangerous and unpredictable in nature, unions work to increase the number of patrols which have partners, to increase the number of sworn officers in an agency, and to improve the vacation and other leave which officers are eligible for. Unions also negotiate pensions for officers (who are typically able to retire with full benefits after 20 years as a result) and to push for better training within agencies (Seib, 1996, p. A16).
Many of the gains that have been made within police agencies have arisen because of the efforts of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). This is a union in the traditional sense in that it consists of a national organization and then local chapters; the local chapters are typically the on
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