Police staff mull 1% pay offer

The three unions representing police staff — Unite, UNISON and GMB — are currently consulting with members in England and Wales over the employers’ offer of a 1% pay rise for 2014-15.

The unions are recommending that members reject the offer, with a view to moving to a formal industrial action ballot in support of the joint union claim for a 3% or £500 pay rise, whichever is the greater. The consultations will close in early September.

Police staff salaries have fallen by 13% in real terms since 2010, following two years of pay freezes and a below-inflation pay rise last year.

UNISON have also warned that morale is “at an all time low”, with a members’ survey indicating that government cuts to police budgets have had a damaging impact on service levels.

Of the 3,335 police staff surveyed — covering roles such as 999 call takers, police community support officers, detention officers, fingerprint experts and crime analysts — almost two-thirds (63%) reported that job cuts had hit morale.

A third of police staff reported being “very stressed”, with over two-thirds citing an increased workload as the main reason why they are stressed. Over a half — 55% — said they suffered from anxiety, and 47% suffered from insomnia.

UNISON is calling on the government and police leaders to review the gap between the rising demand for police services and the cutbacks to the police workforce.

www.unison.org.uk/news/police-pay-consultation

www.unison.org.uk/content/conNewsArticle/5335