Pittsburgh Police Commanders Seek to Unionize
What to know
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Pittsburgh police’s 12-member command staff voted unanimously to unionize with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, separate from the Fraternal Order of Police.
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The city and Mayor Ed Gainey publicly support the move, saying commanders have the right to organize without interference.
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The next step is filing a petition with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to certify the union and begin collective bargaining.
Pittsburgh police's 12-person command staff is seeking to unionize, and Mayor Ed Gainey said Tuesday the city supports the unionization efforts.
City officials said in a release that commanders "unanimously opted to form a union" with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union wholly separate from the Fraternal Order of Police that represents rank-and-file officers. Dozens of police departments in southwestern Pennsylvania are represented by local Teamsters unions.
Next steps, according to the administration, include a formal notice to all commanders about the process and a formal petition with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Once certified, the newly formed union would negotiate its own collective bargaining agreement.
Shawn Malloy, commander of the police bureau's Zone 1, said commanders are pleased by the mayor's support and the administration's "partnership as we move through the process."
"I have always maintained that workers should decide for themselves whether or not to form a union, without interference from their employer," Mr. Gainey said in a statement. "Our police commanders have presented us with authorization cards indicating their wish to organize and I'm happy to support them."
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