What's New
Pay Dispute Heads to Arbitration Again
At a conciliation meeting on 16/8/07 the Official Side of the PNB stuck to its proposals for a real terms pay cut for police officers. No agreement was reached and as in 2006, this year's pay increase will have to be decided by the Police Arbitration Tribunal (PAT) at ACAS.
Terry Spence, Chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said; "Once again this year we find ourselves having to resort to arbitration because of the failure of the Home Office to back up their words of support for UK police officers with a fair pay award. The proposal below inflation award tabled by them reflects the true value they place on our service to the public. I do not believe this is the view held by all on the Official Side, irrespective of what the Home Office say publicly".
Stevie McCann, Secretary of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said; "Gordon Brown recently talked about police officers being "special", especially in the role they have admirably displayed recently in the face of terrorist attacks. We in the PSNI are only too aware of the role police officers play in preventing such atrocities. Yet his Government are not supporting the police - the Treasury and the Home Office are in fact attacking a fair pay deal for the police".
Despite a willingness on behalf of the Staff Side to engage in meaningful consultation over the last two years, certain elements on the Official Side have not shown the same willingness.
Whilst we cannot take industrial action, we will not be bullied into accepting an unfair and derisory pay deal.
It is now time for police officers themselves to get involved and engage their MPs and MLAs . Write to them, go to see them, e-mail them to get the message across.
Contact details for your MP can be found at www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm
Contact details for your MLA can be found at www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/membership07.htm
TIMETABLE - Why we are where we are
October 2005 - Official side (OS) paper proposing pay system to reward skills and performance from September 2006.
April 2006 - While negotiating ongoing OS promise that non-manual private sector index would be maintained until alternative was agreed.
July 2006 - Staff Side (SS) lay claim for non-manual private sector index (3%). OS refuse to agree despite promise.
August 2006 - OS offer 2.2%. SS reject.
November 2006 - Police Arbitration Tribunal (ACAS) awards SS 3%
November 2006 - Home departments ratify award and announce 'independent' review of pay uprating and negotiating machinery.
February 2006 - 'Independent' enquiry recommends shift from non-manual private sector index and across the board pay increases to a new public sector index with differential applications ie not all officers would receive the same increases. SS condemn inquiry findings as 'rigged', 'unfair' and totally blind to special employment conditions of the police.
July 2007 - SS claim 3.94% based on a new combined private/public sector index. OS offer 2.325% based on 'independent' enquiries new public sector index.
August 2007 - Conciliation - No agreement reached - referred to Arbitration.
