Unions write to home secretary demanding police staff pay freeze is overturned

Unions representing police staff, including control room operatives, 999 calls handlers and forensic specialists, have written to the home secretary Priti Patel today (Wednesday) asking her to urgently reconsider the decision to impose a pay freeze on the majority of police staff this year. In July, the Police Staff Council decided police staff earning over £24,000 a year would have their pay frozen for 2021/22, with those earning below that figure receiving an increase of just £250 a year. In their letter, the unions – UNISON, GMB and Unite – highlight that police staff are the only group of emergency responders to have had a pay freeze imposed on them. NHS emergency responders have been offered a three per cent pay increase, while firefighters will receive a 1.5% pay rise. Police staff, who continued to work throughout the pandemic, often in very difficult and trying conditions, are particularly incensed at the pay freeze after the home secretary wrote to them last November thanking them for their “tireless work” and describing “control room staff in particular as the unsung heroes of the crisis”. The letter to Ms Patel states: “Not surprisingly, our members now wonder what has happened to the government’s sense of gratitude for the work they carry out 24/7 to keep our communities safe. Put simply, thanks won’t pay the bills. UNISON national officer for police staff Ben Priestley said: “Those working for the police service have been single...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release police staff pay Source Type: news