Workers stunned, disgusted and deserve better say GMB, UNISON and UNITE
GMB, UNISON and Unite have reacted with anger after police staff were ‘offered’ a pay freeze that amounts to massive real terms pay cut.
Employers - the NPCC, APCC and Home Office - told police staff in England and Wales to expect a 0% pay increase - with £250 for those on less than £24,000.
With inflation running at 3.9% the offer represents a hefty pay cut.
The Home Secretary heaps praise on them, then offers them a pay cut. It’s rank hypocrisy. Police Staff will be disgusted at this abject injustice. We will be meeting shortly to consider next steps.
George Georgiou, GMB National Officer
Meanwhile the latest police workforce stats for England and Wales out this morning show the police staff headcount is down by 15,600 (-14.3%) since 2010, with half of the cuts being PCSOs.
George Georgiou, GMB National Officer for police staff, said:
"This response to our reasonable and moderate pay claim for police staff will be rightly viewed as an insult by the thousands of them who have put their lives on the line during the past 16 months to keep the country safe.
“The Home Secretary heaps praise on them, then offers them a pay cut. It’s rank hypocrisy.
“Police Staff will be disgusted at this abject injustice. We will be meeting shortly to consider next steps."
Ben Priestley, UNISON National Officer for Police Staff, said:
“Police staff salaries have lost nearly a third of their buying power in the past ten years.
“This attempt by the employers to impose a pay freeze, leaving them even worse off, is a disgrace.
“Staff have worked tirelessly to keep their communities safe during the pandemic. They deserve better and employers must improve the offer.”
Jim Kennedy, Unite National Officer, said:
“This is an absolute kick in the teeth for police staff. They have been left stunned and angry by this announcement.
“Police staff have gone beyond the call of duty in the last 18 months to ensure that services were maintained and the public were kept safe in the most difficult and stressful circumstances.
“Workers are already grossly underpaid for the difficult and challenging roles they undertake. This pay cut will result in skilled, dedicated and talented workers leaving the service as they will be able to earn more in less stressful roles in other sectors.
“This is yet another example of how confidence in Priti Patel the home secretary is draining away, she either has no clue about the role of police staff in ensuring that the police service remains fully operational or she doesn’t care.”
