UNISON, UNITE and GMB have submitted a one-year pay claim on behalf of police staff members in England and Wales. It would take effect from 1 September this year.
The claim calls for:
- a 5% increase on all pay points;
- 5% increase on standby allowance;
- he deletion of pay points seven and eight;
- an additional two days on the minimum annual leave entitlement in the Police Staff Council Handbook, to provide 25 days annual leave on appointment and 30 days leave after five years service;
- support and encouragement from the police staff council for police forces to sign up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter, which provides for a compassionate approach to staff who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The claim was made at last Friday’s meeting of the police staff council, the negotiating body that decides the pay and conditions for police staff across England and Wales.
The claim seeks to address a number of issues, including the fact that police staff pay rises over the last 10 years have been outstripped by the cost of living as measured the retail prices index or RPI)inflation.
There is also a need to ensure that the lowest police staff pay points stay ahead of the real living wage of £9 an hour.
The unions also want to work toward reducing the disparity between police staff annual leave entitlement in different forces.
The unions will submit a full written claim in the next week. The police employers will then consult on the claim and we hope to be in a position to respond to the claim so that negotiations can open as soon as possible.
Details of the full claim will be circulated very shortly.