The UK government has been urged to give a 17 percent pay rise to police officers as the labour unrest in the public sector rumbles on.
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) on Thursday made the demand after a think tank report said real-term police pay has fallen almost 20 percent behind inflation since 2000.
The federation quoted the Social Market Foundation (SMF) as saying that police constable starting salaries have lagged behind earnings as a whole across the economy.
By contrast, MPs’ salaries saw a 4 percent rise in total over the same period, it said.
The federation said the decline in police pay is “likely to be linked to the restrictions on police officers’ right to strike, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage to all other workers including other emergency service workers.”
‘Wake-Up Call’
Steve Hartshorn, chair of the federation, labelled the SMF research a “wake-up call for policymakers in the UK,” adding, “For a long time now, the Police Federation of England and Wales has been working to achieve better pay and working conditions for our members.”He said: “Police officers put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect their communities. That is why today our National Council has taken the decision to call for a minimum of 17 percent increase in pay for our officers.
“The government can no longer sit by and ignore our members’ basic needs and must recognise the impact of this independent research. In the context of ongoing inflation, indications of a police retention crisis, and reports of officers being forced to turn to food banks, the issue of police pay must be addressed now after more than a decade of being ignored.”
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Hartshorn said police officers deserve better pay, which “not only reflects the cost-of-living crisis that many of us face but puts right the 17 percent decline since 2000 and compensates officers for the dangers they’re exposed to as part of the job.”
Pay Disputes
Britain has faced serious disruptions in recent months as pay disputes in the public sector led to a series of industrial actions affecting various services.There are signs that the wave of strikes is receding, as unions suspended actions in several sectors amid talks about pay.
Firefighters have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new pay offer, ending the immediate threat of strikes.
An improved offer was made in February to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) of a 7 percent pay rise backdated to last July and a further 5 percent from July this year.
Some 96 percent of FBU members chose to accept the deal on an 84 percent turnout on Monday, with a majority having previously voted to strike.
In the railway sector, the Rail, Maritime, and Transport union called off planned strikes after progress was made in a dispute over pay with National Rail.
Members working at Network Rail were due to strike next on March 16, but the union announced on Tuesday it had suspended all action and would give further updates on the long-running dispute in the coming days.
Continuing Disruptions
But industrial action will continue to cause disruption as many disputes remain unresolved.Junior doctors in England will strike for three days from March 13 in a dispute over pay, the British Medical Association announced.
Some 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union and London Underground workers in the Aslef union will strike on budget day next week in separate disputes.
Teachers’ strikes are also ongoing. The National Education Union said its members in England and Wales will be on strike over two days starting on March 15.
The union, which is asking for an above-inflation pay rise for teachers, has suggested walkouts could be paused if “real progress” is made in negotiations.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she has made a “serious offer” to get round the table with union representatives and discuss pay and conditions.
