No
Agreement on Scottish Police Pay for 2008
Following
the dispute in 2007 when the UK Government overturned an independently
arbitrated pay award, pay talks for 2008 have again broken down. At a
meeting of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) yesterday (23/07/08), a
failure to agree was registered and will be referred to the Police Arbitration
Tribunal (PAT) at ACAS.
The Official Side of the PNB (employers) initially offered an increase
of 2.325% (based on a mixed pay index) while the Staff Side of the PNB
(police officers) claimed 3.5% (based on the IDS ‘whole economy’
median figure).
Norrie Flowers, Chairman of the Scottish Police Federation said,
‘This is another slap in the face to the police officers of the UK.
To be offered 2.3% when inflation is double that is simply not good enough.
I think this Government is determined to reduce police pay and destroy
the negotiating mechanism and we are being pushed right to the limit of
our patience. Our claim for 3.5% is reasonable, justifiable and affordable.
Once again we have to go to independent arbitration to try and achieve
a fair settlement and hope that our governments honour the outcome.’
Mr Flowers continued,
‘Whatever happens in relation to pay this year, we simply have got
to get our negotiating mechanism sorted out. The Government's Green paper
repeated the threat to disband the Police Negotiating Board and force
a pay review body on us. A pay review body is unacceptable. We need a
negotiating forum not one where we are dictated to. We also need independent
binding arbitration in recognition of our lack of industrial rights and
only then can we begin to restore police officer confidence. That threat
together with this pay debacle will leave police officers totally disillusioned
and disgusted.’
