Since 1978 when the International Conference of Police Associations (ICPA) split over affiliation with the AFL-CIO, four police groups have aspired to national membership: the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP); the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO); the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO) formed by ICPA members opposed to AFL-CIO affiliation; and the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) founded by the ICPA faction that joined the AFL-CIO. The fierce competition among these groups may be altered by the recent merger of the National Association of Government Employees, of which the IBPO is part, into the Service Employees International Union, a major AFL-CIO affiliate. On the other hand, many labor professionals believe that statewide police federations, such as the Wisconsin Professional Police Organization, are becoming more important and the national organizing efforts are a waste of time. Previous attempts to organize a national union have failed, and the IUPA now claims only about 20,000 members. While some labor leaders believe that police officers need a voice now on national issues, others contend that a strong State organization is a necessary intermediate step to a successful national union.