This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rq8dg77lwo
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Met Police: vote for strike action over return to office working | |
| (2 months later) | |
| The new policy would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers | The new policy would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers |
| Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike over office working. | Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike over office working. |
| A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action, with 85% of members who voted saying yes to taking strike action and 91% voting for action short of a strike. | A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action, with 85% of members who voted saying yes to taking strike action and 91% voting for action short of a strike. |
| The PCS said it showed the depth of feeling after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home part of the week. | The PCS said it showed the depth of feeling after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home part of the week. |
| The Met said it was "disappointed" by the vote for strike action, but added it had "contingencies in place" for policing. | The Met said it was "disappointed" by the vote for strike action, but added it had "contingencies in place" for policing. |
| The new policy, which the union says requires staff to work in the office for between 60% and 100% of the time, would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers. | The new policy, which the union says requires staff to work in the office for between 60% and 100% of the time, would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers. |
| 'Not bobbies on the beat' | 'Not bobbies on the beat' |
| The PCS said the policy "disproportionately impacts" women, part-time workers and those with disabilities. | The PCS said the policy "disproportionately impacts" women, part-time workers and those with disabilities. |
| According to the union, it is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action. | According to the union, it is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action. |
| PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are not bobbies on the beat. | PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are not bobbies on the beat. |
| "They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute." | "They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute." |
| She added: "It's time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people." | She added: "It's time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people." |
| A Met spokesperson said PCS members include staff who are not desk-only, such as frontline police community support officers (PCSOs) and crime scene officers. | A Met spokesperson said PCS members include staff who are not desk-only, such as frontline police community support officers (PCSOs) and crime scene officers. |
| They added the plans had been put forward to provide "consistency" across the force. | They added the plans had been put forward to provide "consistency" across the force. |
| "Our policy doesn't end working from home, we have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week." | "Our policy doesn't end working from home, we have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week." |
| Speaking about the walkout, the spokesperson said: "We know this will raise questions about our ability to serve London, but we want to reassure the public we have contingencies in place to keep them safe." | Speaking about the walkout, the spokesperson said: "We know this will raise questions about our ability to serve London, but we want to reassure the public we have contingencies in place to keep them safe." |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk |