FOP Washington State Labor Coalition?

• What is it?
• Who's eligible to participate?
• What are the benefits?
• What does it cost?
• Who manages the FOP Labor Coalition

It's not a labor committee. It's not a union. It is an independent organization available to every law enforcement agency labor group in the State of Washington. It's purpose is that of negotiating with an organization's employer, a collective bargaining agreement and includes interest arbitration in the event that a successful negotiated contract is not obtained. Contracts will be negotiated by the organizations elected contract negotiators and a knowledgeable police labor attorney retained by the FOP Labor Coalition.

Any police guild, or association who is a affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Police, because it's members are active FOP. The guild or association would have to use the FOP Labor Coalition as it's sole collective bargaining agent to retain the services of the Labor Coalition's attorneys. The individual guild or association remains independent and is not affiliated with any organized labor union.

For a minimal cost per month, per member, the organization receives a professional police labor attorney representing their sole interests while the organization remains independent. The cost would be similar to a retainer fee. This is especially important for smaller agencies who are not financially independent and in a position to withstand a holdout by their government agency during contract negotiations. The participating organization's members have direct input into the negotiations process and meet face to face with the organization's government negotiators. A professional police labor attorney is familiar with all of the current case law and the FLSA (Fair Labor and Standards Act) as they affect mandatory subjects of bargaining (i.e. wages, working conditions and hours of work) . The professional police labor attorney also has the knowledge of the day to day operations of a police department and local city or county governments. There is no need to worry about interest arbitration cost as those cost are included in the monthly premium. This includes all attorney’s fees and arbitrator costs. No need to increase dues or hold fund raisers for the purposes of raising money to take a labor contract to arbitration.

Currently, there are ongoing negotiations with a professional police labor attorney firm.  It is hopeful that the cost will be between $15 - $30 per month, per member, of the organization. Most police labor organizations, whether they are associations, guilds or unions, normally pay more than this to monthly dues. What do your monthly dues get you?

E-mail Jeff Olson FOP Labor Coalition Information.