Police Pay Uprating Arrangements 2006
We
are deeply disappointed that, for the first time since the inception
of the Police Negotiating Board, the Official Side has failed to respond
to PNB in our request to have police pay uprated in accordance with
the agreed index..
Joint
Branch Boards are aware that the index this year indicated a 3% increase
which should have taken effect from 1st September.
The
Official Side, in answer to our claim for uprating, stated that they
were unable to respond at this time and requested that we allow them
until the end of next week when they felt hopeful that they would
be in a position to provide a response. Staff Side were not willing
to meet their request and formally registered a failure to agree,
for the following reasons:
*
We have constantly reminded the Official Side that the indexation
arrangements underpin Staff Side's whole negotiating strategy and
therefore in our view, is sacrosanct.
*
On entering the pay reform negotiations and during discussions over
the last 10 months Staff Side sought and received assurances that
all current pay uprating arrangements would be honoured until an
alternative was negotiated. To date, no proposals to change have
been received far less negotiated. In the absence of an agreement
today, Staff Side concluded that this was a breach of those assurances
*
A paper relating to indexation had been promised by the Official
Side since early this year. Not only has this paper not materialised
but several joint working party meetings have been cancelled as
a result.
*
Traditionally and for very good practical reasons, the Annual General
Meeting of PNB agrees the pay award for September. This is to ensure
that officers receive the increase as soon as practicable after
1 September. The delay envisaged by the Official Side would further
exacerbate this situation and Staff Side had no wish to provide
such an opportunity.
During
the meeting, Staff Side stressed that our claim was reasonable and
based on average earnings in the private sector over the past year.
We reminded the Official Side that our pay arrangements reflected
the special nature of policing, the sacrifices police officers make
and their inability to take industrial action. We also registered
our strong concern that PNB was being undermined by undue influence
from external forces.
The
claim has now moved to conciliation which commence on 21st August
unless an agreement can be reached in the meantime.
I
can assure you, that I and your PNB Representatives will continue
to fight to have the agreed index awarded this year and seek to protect
the current indexation arrangements for future years.
As
you may know, the conciliation process is confidential, however I
will keep you fully informed of all developments.
Joe
Grant
General Secretary
