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New Year's Eve police strike to go ahead New Year's Eve police strike to go ahead
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of police civilian staff, including handlers of 999 calls, will strike on New Year's Eve in London to coincide with a fresh walkout by firefighters.Thousands of police civilian staff, including handlers of 999 calls, will strike on New Year's Eve in London to coincide with a fresh walkout by firefighters.
About 7,500 civilian police workers will take action for 24 hours in a row over pay while members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in England and Wales will stop work for six hours from 6.30pm.About 7,500 civilian police workers will take action for 24 hours in a row over pay while members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in England and Wales will stop work for six hours from 6.30pm.
It will be the eighth strike by the FBU since September in a bitter dispute over pensions and the retirement age.It will be the eighth strike by the FBU since September in a bitter dispute over pensions and the retirement age.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called the London strike in protest against a below-inflation 1% rise.The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union called the London strike in protest against a below-inflation 1% rise.
Police and community support officers, 999 call handlers, detention officers in custody suites and a range of administration and professional support staff are among those who will take action. Police and community support officers, 999 call handlers, detention officers in custody suites and a range of administrative and professional support staff are among those who will take action.
The general secretary of PCS, Mark Serwotka, said: "The Metropolitan police is not short of money. It does not need to force pay cuts on low-paid staff who help to keep London safe." The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: "The Metropolitan police is not short of money. It does not need to force pay cuts on low-paid staff who help to keep London safe."
A spokesman for the Met said: "The PCS has now informed the MPS that they intend to take strike action on New Year's Eve – one of the days when demand for our services is highest.A spokesman for the Met said: "The PCS has now informed the MPS that they intend to take strike action on New Year's Eve – one of the days when demand for our services is highest.
"We have tried-and-tested business continuity plans for all eventualities, including industrial action. These ensure that critical functions performed by police staff are performed by police officers who are fully trained in those roles. "We have tried and tested business continuity plans for all eventualities, including industrial action. These ensure that critical functions performed by police staff are performed by police officers who are fully trained in those roles.
"To ensure we are able to implement these plans, we stopped granting any further requests for annual leave or days off for officers and staff in a number of key areas for New Year's Eve in mid-December."To ensure we are able to implement these plans, we stopped granting any further requests for annual leave or days off for officers and staff in a number of key areas for New Year's Eve in mid-December.
"In some cases we've also had to take the very difficult decision to cancel planned days off for officers with certain critical skills or in critical operational areas."In some cases we've also had to take the very difficult decision to cancel planned days off for officers with certain critical skills or in critical operational areas.
"These are clearly all steps we'd rather not take but we have to be prepared to maintain critical operational areas in the event of strike action by police staff, and we are confident that we have appropriate plans in place.""These are clearly all steps we'd rather not take but we have to be prepared to maintain critical operational areas in the event of strike action by police staff, and we are confident that we have appropriate plans in place."
Matt Wrack, FBU's general secretary, said: "Firefighters on duty over the festive period don't have much to celebrate this year, and tomorrow's strike will remind the government of the service we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every year of our careers. Matt Wrack, the FBU's general secretary, said: "Firefighters on duty over the festive period don't have much to celebrate this year, and tomorrow's strike will remind the government of the service we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every year of our careers.
"Nobody wants these strikes but firefighters remain extremely angry over the prospect of being priced out of their pensions and facing the sack owing to the government's ludicrous pretence that men and women of 60 can meet the same fitness standards as 20-year-olds."Nobody wants these strikes but firefighters remain extremely angry over the prospect of being priced out of their pensions and facing the sack owing to the government's ludicrous pretence that men and women of 60 can meet the same fitness standards as 20-year-olds.
"The government at Westminster has acknowledged our concerns but not done anything to seriously address them.""The government at Westminster has acknowledged our concerns but not done anything to seriously address them."
The union said the current storms and floods had highlighted the valuable and wide-ranging job firefighters do. A further strike is being held for two hours from 6.30am on Friday.The union said the current storms and floods had highlighted the valuable and wide-ranging job firefighters do. A further strike is being held for two hours from 6.30am on Friday.
The government said firefighters will still receive generous pensions and has criticised the strikes.The government said firefighters will still receive generous pensions and has criticised the strikes.
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