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| Police Scotland officers request 8.5% pay rise | Police Scotland officers request 8.5% pay rise |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police Scotland's new chief constable Jo Farrell could arrive this summer and find herself slap bang in the middle of a pay dispute. | Police Scotland's new chief constable Jo Farrell could arrive this summer and find herself slap bang in the middle of a pay dispute. |
| Associations representing all staff within the service have submitted an 8.5% pay claim for 2023/24. | Associations representing all staff within the service have submitted an 8.5% pay claim for 2023/24. |
| If it's turned down, the Scottish Police Federation will ask its members to consider withdrawing "goodwill." | If it's turned down, the Scottish Police Federation will ask its members to consider withdrawing "goodwill." |
| That would be a repeat of action taken last year but with extra unspecified "disruptive activities." | That would be a repeat of action taken last year but with extra unspecified "disruptive activities." |
| The Federation represents all ranks up to chief inspector, around 98% of the entire force, but by law, they can't go on strike or refuse to work overtime. | The Federation represents all ranks up to chief inspector, around 98% of the entire force, but by law, they can't go on strike or refuse to work overtime. |
| Police Scotland appoints Jo Farrell as first female chief | Police Scotland appoints Jo Farrell as first female chief |
| What they can do, is only do what they're supposed to and no more. | What they can do, is only do what they're supposed to and no more. |
| A work to rule in all but name, that's what happened last year after the federation rejected what it called a "derisory" £565 pay rise. | A work to rule in all but name, that's what happened last year after the federation rejected what it called a "derisory" £565 pay rise. |
| Officers refused to begin shifts early and finished work at their rostered time unless they were expressly told to work late. | Officers refused to begin shifts early and finished work at their rostered time unless they were expressly told to work late. |
| They asked to be paid for all the overtime they worked and didn't take equipment like police radios home at the end of their shift. | They asked to be paid for all the overtime they worked and didn't take equipment like police radios home at the end of their shift. |
| Six weeks later, they accepted a 5% pay rise and "goodwill" returned. | Six weeks later, they accepted a 5% pay rise and "goodwill" returned. |
| The federation said that combining last year's rise with an 8.5% increase this year would put them in line with two-year deals given to teachers, firefighters and some nurses. | The federation said that combining last year's rise with an 8.5% increase this year would put them in line with two-year deals given to teachers, firefighters and some nurses. |
| Jo Farrell will replace Sir Iain Livingstone, who is retiring in August | Jo Farrell will replace Sir Iain Livingstone, who is retiring in August |
| But the financial pressure on the force means another dispute is looking likely. | But the financial pressure on the force means another dispute is looking likely. |
| Last year the Scottish government gave the Scottish Police Authority £1.45bn - an increase of 6.3%, with roughly £1.3bn going to the force. | Last year the Scottish government gave the Scottish Police Authority £1.45bn - an increase of 6.3%, with roughly £1.3bn going to the force. |
| Police Scotland said inflation meant the settlement represented a real terms reduction and would require "difficult choices" to be made. | Police Scotland said inflation meant the settlement represented a real terms reduction and would require "difficult choices" to be made. |
| Any pay rise will have to come out of that pot of cash. | Any pay rise will have to come out of that pot of cash. |
| SPF chair David Threadgold argues that all they are asking for is a fair pay award. | SPF chair David Threadgold argues that all they are asking for is a fair pay award. |
| He said: "We are looking for the police to be treated fairly while recognising the fact that we cannot strike, we cannot withdraw our labour." | He said: "We are looking for the police to be treated fairly while recognising the fact that we cannot strike, we cannot withdraw our labour." |
| Asked where the money would come from, Mr Threadgold replied: "That question is not for us to answer. It's for the official side, for the government to answer. | Asked where the money would come from, Mr Threadgold replied: "That question is not for us to answer. It's for the official side, for the government to answer. |
| "It's far too easy for those in government in Scotland to say the block grant from Westminster isn't sufficient and therefore there is no money. | "It's far too easy for those in government in Scotland to say the block grant from Westminster isn't sufficient and therefore there is no money. |
| "There's clear evidence that when other public sector workers use their right to strike, then pay settlements that could never be increased suddenly find themselves being increased." | "There's clear evidence that when other public sector workers use their right to strike, then pay settlements that could never be increased suddenly find themselves being increased." |
| 'Disruptive action' | 'Disruptive action' |
| The 8.5% claim has been submitted to the Police Negotiating Board, which comprises the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish government and the current chief constable, Sir Iain Livingstone. | The 8.5% claim has been submitted to the Police Negotiating Board, which comprises the Scottish Police Authority, the Scottish government and the current chief constable, Sir Iain Livingstone. |
| A meeting between the staff side and the board has already taken place but ended without resolution. | A meeting between the staff side and the board has already taken place but ended without resolution. |
| The next meeting isn't due to take place until October and the federation wants another long before that. | The next meeting isn't due to take place until October and the federation wants another long before that. |
| If an earlier meeting isn't arranged, it will ask its members to consider repeating what they did last year and more. | If an earlier meeting isn't arranged, it will ask its members to consider repeating what they did last year and more. |
| Mr Threadgold said: "There are also a number of other activities that we are planning that will have a disruptive impact on policing across Scotland. | Mr Threadgold said: "There are also a number of other activities that we are planning that will have a disruptive impact on policing across Scotland. |
| "There's no way of addressing the issues of fair pay without potentially taking disruptive action." | "There's no way of addressing the issues of fair pay without potentially taking disruptive action." |
| He wouldn't spell out what further action might be taken. | He wouldn't spell out what further action might be taken. |
| 'Real financial constraint' | |
| Commenting on the possibility of action by police officers, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "We don't want anybody to work to rule or in the case of other workforces go on strike. Where we can avoid it in the country, we absolutely will. | |
| "I think people also understand our budget is under real financial constraint, particularly given the disaster of the mini-budget last year from the UK government." | |
| The Scottish government said: "Policing is and will continue to be a priority for this government. | The Scottish government said: "Policing is and will continue to be a priority for this government. |
| "We are grateful to our police officers and staff who provide a vital service every day to ensure we continue to have a safe, protected, and resilient Scotland. | "We are grateful to our police officers and staff who provide a vital service every day to ensure we continue to have a safe, protected, and resilient Scotland. |
| "Police Officer pay has been negotiated for many years through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). | "Police Officer pay has been negotiated for many years through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). |
| "The PNB process is ongoing in relation to pay for 2023-24 and it is therefore not appropriate for us to comment as due process needs to be followed." | "The PNB process is ongoing in relation to pay for 2023-24 and it is therefore not appropriate for us to comment as due process needs to be followed." |
| The force would only say: "Discussions with relevant staff associations are continuing." | The force would only say: "Discussions with relevant staff associations are continuing." |
| The Scottish Police Authority has been approached for comment. | The Scottish Police Authority has been approached for comment. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Police Scotland | Police Scotland |
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