UNISON recommends Police Scotland support staff reject pay offer

Police Scotland - Image credit: Ian Britton via Flickr

UNISON Police Staff Scotland, the branch of UNISON that represents police support staff, is recommending that its members reject the Scottish Police Authority’s pay offer for 2016/17.

The public services union says the one per cent offer is “no better than the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy” and does not meet “our reasonable demands and what our members expect”.

UNISON will run a ballot over Christmas to gauge the feeling of the branch members.

Branch secretary George McIrvine said: “Our members are not being paid appropriately for the work they do and the pressures they have been under since Police Scotland came into being in 2013.

“Average wages across the UK are on the increase. And the rise in the cost of living, rate of inflation, National Insurance contributions are all impacting on take home pay, and yet our members are expected to cope on a miserly one per cent pay rise.

“The employer’s delayed offer to our members is frankly derisory”

UNISON regional organiser Gerry Crawley complained that there had been no formal negotiations with the trade unions over the pay offer.

“UNISON submitted a reasonable pay claim which has been rejected outright by the Scottish Police Authority,” he said.

“I do not think the employer really understands the day to day pressures our members are under.

He added: “It is the employer’s financial mismanagement that has ultimately led to problems with budgets and police staff are the people who are bearing the brunt through brutal cuts.

“It is all the more frustrating when the Scottish Police Authority have not explored all options open to them.”

Responding to UNISON’s criticism, chief executive of the Scottish Police Authority John Foley said: “Like all public bodies in Scotland, Police Scotland and the SPA are part of the Public Sector Pay Policy which allows for cost of living salary increases up to a maximum of one percent for those earning over £22,000 and a £400 increase to those earning less than £22,000.

“Although we continue to face significant cost pressures, we recognise the valuable contribution of our staff and, for the third year in a row, we are aiming to apply the maximum available increase.

“In addition, staff earning less than the Scottish Living Wage will have their salaries adjusted upwards by 5.1 per cent to ensure a salary equivalent of £16,150.
 
“We will continue discussions with the trade unions and keep staff updated on progress."