Workplace Report December 2002

Features: Pay News

Pay and conditions review for police support staff

Police Service

Public sector

Location: National

No. covered: 40,000

Increase: 3.4%

Length of agreement: 1 year

Date: 1.9.02

Hours: 37 (36 in Met Area)

Holidays: 22 +8 (27 after 5 years)

Another group of public sector workers has negotiated an overall review of pay and conditions of employment - this time it's the police support staff.

Under a 3.4% pay deal agreed last month, a joint working party is to consider a wide range of contractual and industrial relations issues. These will include recruitment and retention problems, annual leave, the extent of low pay among staff covered by the agreement, and the nature and extent of the gender pay gap.

Training and development, work-life balance, and performance will also be on the agenda for the joint working party. Chris Kaufman T&G general union national secretary said: "Police support staff are increasingly being asked to take on the work of the police reform agenda. In that context we are no longer prepared to accept low pay or lack of status."

UNISON sees the joint review as "a very positive development". The GMB is also a signatory to the agreement.