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Those of us from the UK will, no doubt, be fully aware of the recent march witin London of 22,500 off duty police officers who are protesting their pay rise.
For those of you who are not aware, here is what happened.
Every September the Police Authorites, Police Federation and Government sit down to talk pay rise. Most years they can't agree and this then goes to arbitration. This method has existed for years, and has been seen as 'fair' by all sides. This year however the arbitration suggestion of a 2.5% pay increase, back dated to September was summarily dissmised by the Home Secratary who decided that the increase would only be paid from December onwards. This essentialy means that Officers receive a 1.9% increase.
This is at a time of roughly 2.5% inflation
This is at a time of roughly 4% increase on the retail price index
Not only is this below average but is also destroying a long standing agreement between the Police and the Government. If the government or the Home Secretary had no intention of following the arbitration why waste the time, effort and money going to it? Why string the police along thinking that they would have a fair settlement.
This isn't so much a money aspect, for the average rank and file officer it amounts to around 200-300 after tax but it is the principle of acting with honesty and integrity, the same qualities that officers have to use day in and day out our leaders will not deal with the Police in the same manner. If the arbitration had said 1.9% backdated to September there would have been grumblings but the arbitration did not. The Home Secratary decided that she would ignore the agreement and make her own desicion.
Police Officers regularly face sights we wish we could not imagine, car crashes, murders, dead bodies, serious injuries.
Police Officers regularly put themselves directly into the path of danger to protect the public, yes it is their job but lets be fair to them.
For those of you who are not aware, here is what happened.
Every September the Police Authorites, Police Federation and Government sit down to talk pay rise. Most years they can't agree and this then goes to arbitration. This method has existed for years, and has been seen as 'fair' by all sides. This year however the arbitration suggestion of a 2.5% pay increase, back dated to September was summarily dissmised by the Home Secratary who decided that the increase would only be paid from December onwards. This essentialy means that Officers receive a 1.9% increase.
This is at a time of roughly 2.5% inflation
This is at a time of roughly 4% increase on the retail price index
Not only is this below average but is also destroying a long standing agreement between the Police and the Government. If the government or the Home Secretary had no intention of following the arbitration why waste the time, effort and money going to it? Why string the police along thinking that they would have a fair settlement.
This isn't so much a money aspect, for the average rank and file officer it amounts to around 200-300 after tax but it is the principle of acting with honesty and integrity, the same qualities that officers have to use day in and day out our leaders will not deal with the Police in the same manner. If the arbitration had said 1.9% backdated to September there would have been grumblings but the arbitration did not. The Home Secratary decided that she would ignore the agreement and make her own desicion.
Police Officers regularly face sights we wish we could not imagine, car crashes, murders, dead bodies, serious injuries.
Police Officers regularly put themselves directly into the path of danger to protect the public, yes it is their job but lets be fair to them.
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