Should the police have the right to strike?

Back in the 70s, our police department formed a union. we had not had a raise or increase in benefits in over three years. no one seemed to listen or even care for that fact. our union tried to explain that the police did not have a product to offer(like water or electricity), in order to increase to pay officers a living wage. all we had to offer was a service to the public. that one summer night, 85% of 1,200 officers met in a hotel in downtown Nashville. the purpose of the meeting was to take a strike vote. we felt like we had no other choice. here is my question: what if we had struck that night in the 70s? what is your feeling and what other recourse could we have used to justify our desperatly needed pay raise?