Scottish police staff urged to reject latest pay offer, which Unison says ‘falls short’
Police workers across Scotland are to be consulted over pay offer, with a recommendation it should be rejected, says Unison.
The Scottish Police Authority’s offer of 4.75 per cent on pay and allowances “falls short” of this year’s pay claim, the union says.
Unison Scotland police staff branch secretary David Malcolm said: “Police staff play a vital role in keeping communities safe across the country. The justice system simply couldn’t function without the essential work of employees in control rooms, forensic laboratories and custody suites.
“When Police Scotland was established a decade ago, there were promises that savings would be pumped back into the service. But all that’s happened since then is a reduction in police numbers and cuts in police staff pay. At the same time spending on consultancy firms such as Price Waterhouse Cooper and Deloitte has gone through the roof.
“Police staff belonging to Unison are recommended to reject this offer and show they’re prepared to take industrial action to bring the Scottish Police Authority back to the table with an improved offer.”
The Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS) official side offer of a 4.75 per cent uplift covers all police officer ranks and pay points.
The 4.75 per cent offer to police staff members covers those earning £28,296 and above.
Police staff earning up to £28,296 are offered a £1,344 uplift. The two lowest pay points would be removed with effect from April 1, 2024, meaning the lowest salary point would be £26,031, equating to an hourly rate of £14.26.
The 4.75 per cent uplift offer also applies to a range of allowances for officers and staff, while on-call allowances would increase to £32 from April 1, 2024, with a further increase to £35 from January 1, 2025.
The Scottish Police Authority said the offer continues policing in Scotland’s commitment to no compulsory redundancies, adding: “The offers are above inflation and higher than any pay increase agreed within the Scottish public sector, excluding the NHS.”
Since the offers were made, the staff side of the PNBS has submitted a revised claim, seeking a response from the official side by October 28.
“As part of the pay offer to trade unions, the Scottish Police Authority is prepared to re-open negotiations to ensure staff do not suffer any detriment to their police officer colleagues, should the outcome of their negotiations result in an agreement that is greater than 4.75 per cent,” said the Scottish Police Authority.