This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21652384
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Police Federation vote over 'right to strike' fails | Police Federation vote over 'right to strike' fails |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Police Federation of England and Wales has failed to achieve enough votes to lobby the government for industrial rights. | The Police Federation of England and Wales has failed to achieve enough votes to lobby the government for industrial rights. |
| An online ballot by the federation, which has more than 130,000 members, was open to all police ranks from constable to chief inspector. | An online ballot by the federation, which has more than 130,000 members, was open to all police ranks from constable to chief inspector. |
| Although a majority voted "yes", this was less than the 50% + 1 of the entire membership needed to lobby ministers. | Although a majority voted "yes", this was less than the 50% + 1 of the entire membership needed to lobby ministers. |
| It is illegal for police officers to take industrial action. | It is illegal for police officers to take industrial action. |
| We've already seen a protest march by police officers through the streets of London - but even if this vote had been supportive of seeking to strike, you would not have seen coppers in donkey jackets on picket lines. | |
| Ever since police in Liverpool went on strike almost a century ago, sworn officers have been banned from withdrawing their labour. | |
| Under the Police Act 1996, it is a criminal offence for any person to cause, or attempt to cause "disaffection amongst the members of any police force". If a Police Federation organiser had called on PCs to down handcuffs and walk out, they'd face up to two years in jail. | |
| So this vote was about sending a message to ministers that ordinary police officers are fed up with reforms - changes that the government has been determined to drive through. | |
| The fact that less than half of the Police Federation's membership supported the proposal shows how many officers think it would have been a futile gesture. | |
| The federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, asked its members whether or not they wished the organisation to seek the right to take industrial action, including going on strike. | The federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, asked its members whether or not they wished the organisation to seek the right to take industrial action, including going on strike. |
| Out of the 133,108 officers eligible to vote, some 56,333 took part in the ballot, with 45,651 voting in favour and 10,681 voting against. | Out of the 133,108 officers eligible to vote, some 56,333 took part in the ballot, with 45,651 voting in favour and 10,681 voting against. |
| Federation chairman Steve Williams said: "It would not be appropriate to undertake a course of action that could potentially change the employment status of more than 133,000 police officers if fewer than half of those officers have voted for us to do so. | |
| "However, the significant number that voted in favour of the right to take industrial action have done so in response to the reforms and changes to policing which are being proposed and implemented by the government, and the impact those changes are having on officers' ability to do their jobs and on their morale." | "However, the significant number that voted in favour of the right to take industrial action have done so in response to the reforms and changes to policing which are being proposed and implemented by the government, and the impact those changes are having on officers' ability to do their jobs and on their morale." |
| Mr Williams said the federation's central committee would now discuss the ballot result before deciding its next move. | |
| Federation officials said 20% cuts to policing, combined with "attacks" on pensions, pay and conditions, have resulted in a period of "unprecedented discontent and low morale" among police officers. | |
| In January, the Home Office announced the starting salary for police constables in England and Wales was being cut by £4,000 to £19,000. | |
| It was part of a package of reforms put forward by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor, in the widest-ranging review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years. | |
| He also recommended fast-tracking recruits to inspector level within three years and allowing outsiders to join as superintendents with 15 months' training. |