International Union of Police Associations

Local police unions join the IUPA to secure collective bargaining rights and afford their members job security.[2] The IUPA negotiates on behalf of Local Unions for better wages, benefits, and working conditions in their contracts.[3][4][5][6][7] The IUPA offers assistance on such items as equipment recommendation or budget issues and will send a representative to speak for the union. Besides help with legal representation, the IUPA offers financial, insurance and health services, educational opportunities, police products and home services.[8] Apart from police officers, IUPA also represents some corrections officers and medical first responders.[9]

The IUPA provides NewsWatch, a weekly publication for the law enforcement community.[10]

The organization has been criticized for its status as charity: it received a 'D-' rating from the Better Business Bureau[11] and was listed among America's worst charities by the Tampa Bay Times in 2014 because of their low spending on their mission.[12] IUPA operates under multiple trade names, including 'Police Officers Support Association' and 'National Emergency Responders Coalition'. The majority of their budget is spent on fundraising.[13] In 2017, the IUPA raised about US$13 million through solicitors, of which almost US$12 million went to the solicitors.[14]

In 1954 the predecessor of the IUPA, the National Conference of Police Associations NCPA was founded in an effort to strengthen bargaining efforts. In 1966 Canadian associations were allowed to join, and the name was changed to International Conference of Police Associations and later to International Union of Police Associations.[15] In IUPA was founded in 1979 as a national union under AFL-CIO, reported to have 51,000 members by 1979/1980, and claimed to represent over 100,000 members in 2018.[13] However, its 2016 form 990 are reported a much lower number: 19,200.[17]

Since 2005 it is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida,[18] where it purchased a building in 2018 for its headquarters.[19]

The IUPA lobbied successfully in 1986 for the passage of amendments to the FLSA or Fair Labor Standards Act which helped to ensure that officers are paid fair wages, have a voice in the legal system, and have reasonable employment standards.[20]

In 2018, the IUPA was one of several organizations who supported the Providing Officers with Electronic Resources (POWER) Act to give various law enforcement access to screening devices suitable for detecting drugs such as fentanyl.[21][22]

In 2017, the IUPA, together with the Ohio State Troopers Association, filed a lawsuit against a Florida company for manufacturing defective bulletproof vests.[23] Also in 2017, a IUPA spokesperson was quoted as warning about law enforcement officers being endangered by carbon monoxide fumes from defective Ford Explorer patrol cars.[24]

In 2016, the IUPA was one of several law enforcement organizations who supported federal legislation to renew the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.[25] In 2020, IUPA spoke out about the importance of mental health concerns for law enforcement, describing stress as a bigger threat to police officers' safety and well-being than violence.[26]

In September 2019, well over a year before the elections, the union formally endorsed the re-election campaign of Donald Trump, while stating that the Democratic contenders vilified the police.[27]

In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, the AFL-CIO rejected demands by the Writers Guild of America, East and others to expel IUPA.[28][9]

• Official website