Not so. The Canadian Forces Military Police is also a recognized federal police force that is not permitted to “unionize”. With over 1,250 full-time members, they form one of the largest police forces in Canada.

I believe both federal police forces should work together in asserting their right to free association.

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I would like to believe that an “essential service” designation would prevent a police union from withdrawing service during a dispute with management but I think that would be naive. Every union which functions under the rubric of essential service designation knows full well how to shovel sand into the organizational gears. Some do, and some don’t. Why? What accounts for the difference? Let’s face it. The RCMP rank and file already know how to fight the command structure with impunity and they need no collective agreement to shield them if they would vent their spleen at this personality in management or that new policy directive. Many have been doing it successfully for years. Trying to tag them as they do it is likely to be as successful as my white haired mother trying to tag Ali in his prime.

To understand the likely outcome of unionization you need first to understand the prevailing mindset and beliefs of the majority of those who make up the union membership. And from where I stand, things do not look too good. Maybe the potential outcome is best illustrated by a parallel history. In years past, Canada’s postal workers were represented by two different unions. One bargained for the inside workers while the other bargained for the letter carriers (you know, the men and women who come to your door step day after day with your mail, or who load it into your “Super Mail Box” at the end of your street). One union (the inside workers) had a tradition of militancy and a reputation for self centered, ‘who gives a damn’ bitterness. The letter carriers on the other hand had a tradition of service and a reluctance to strike. Why? Simply put the LCUC who trudged through the snow to your doorstep and who would seem to have the worse job, got to see the faces of the customers and understood the gratitude of the senior who appreciated her pension cheque or the kid who hopped up and down with glee over a birthday card in the mail.

And that is why I have few hopes for brighter days. There are clearly some exceptions but on balance, the RCMP I see on duty has replaced a tradition of service from years past with a bureaucratic reluctance to help. When one calls the RCMP frequently one gets a list of reasons why they decline to respond and a suggestion to take your problem elsewhere. So I expect the service standards will sink a little bit, but they are already low so maybe we may not notice much of a decline.

But if government really wanted to address service standards and cost effectiveness and in the process bypass the somewhat marginal concerns over collective bargaining rights there is a way. In BC, where I believe the contract is up for renewal shortly, implement a review commission tasked to look into alternate means of policing. And make it clear that the problems and symptoms the commission of inquiry wishes to address are those most afflicting the general public: service standards, unregulated use of deadly force, lack of accountability, isolated aloof policing mentality, inability to connect with the community…and anything else that needs addressing. In short, plan to take your business to another service provider (including one you may want to set up) and watch how the RCMP rank and file ability to bargain collectively suddenly becomes as irrelevant as a knife in a gun fight.

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Its unlikely that the Harper government will appeal this but the proponents of the union have to convince all the rank & file RCMP officers to vote to form a union. Thats not a given. The proponents of unionizing the force are the professional associations representing Mounties in Ontario and Quebec (where the RCMP just carries out federal law enforcement) and B.C. (the largest contract policing province) but not all members in those provinces have joined the voluntary professional associations representing RCMP officers.

Deepthroat, you seem to be pretty knowledgable on this topic, what do you think the actual level of support for a union is among the frontline RCMP?

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Is that the recorded message you get from your local Police department Alcan? Better move to a non union location.

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Forget the Emergency calls…. they won’t just go back to bed … the Recorded message will say NOT AVAILABLE SLEEPING or out on my BREAK… SEE YA!!!

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What about the victims, can someone do what is right for them for a change?

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