12/12/2007
Cops May Seek Strike Rights As Pay Crisis Escalates
There is a growing crisis looming on UK policing with unrest among police officers so bad that they are today holding emergency talks which could see them demand the right to strike over a bitter pay row.
The talks will pile pressure on the government over its outright refusal to backdate a 2.5% pay rise to September 1, which is a decision that the officers' representative body, the Police Federation claims effectively reduces the increase to 1.9%.
Officers from each of the 43 forces in England and Wales will look at what action they can take over the dispute and were today joined in London by representatives from all the police staff associations including the Police Superintendent's Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers – bringing officers from the whole of the UK into the heart of the dispute.
Already, senior Police Federation members have already taken legal advice on whether any industrial action could be taken to force the government's hand.
Police officers are banned from striking by an act of Parliament although some Federation members have called for a ballot to demand it is removed.
Association of Chief Police Officers President, Ken Jones, said government ministers should not underestimate the tensions felt by officers on the pay issue.
He said: "I feel we are not giving sufficient weight to the fact that cops don't enjoy the ordinary rights of other workers in terms of industrial action."
(BMcC/KMcA)
The talks will pile pressure on the government over its outright refusal to backdate a 2.5% pay rise to September 1, which is a decision that the officers' representative body, the Police Federation claims effectively reduces the increase to 1.9%.
Officers from each of the 43 forces in England and Wales will look at what action they can take over the dispute and were today joined in London by representatives from all the police staff associations including the Police Superintendent's Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers – bringing officers from the whole of the UK into the heart of the dispute.
Already, senior Police Federation members have already taken legal advice on whether any industrial action could be taken to force the government's hand.
Police officers are banned from striking by an act of Parliament although some Federation members have called for a ballot to demand it is removed.
Association of Chief Police Officers President, Ken Jones, said government ministers should not underestimate the tensions felt by officers on the pay issue.
He said: "I feel we are not giving sufficient weight to the fact that cops don't enjoy the ordinary rights of other workers in terms of industrial action."
(BMcC/KMcA)
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