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Anger and disappointment as Police Negotiating Board registers failure to agree on police pay proposals
Posted on 27/07/2011
The Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) is bitterly disappointed that Tuesday's (26/7/11) PNB meeting ended with a 'failure to agree' after it put forward an alternative proposal of reforms that would have delivered equivalent, or more, financial savings to those proposed in the Winsor Report. The actions of the Official Side has forced Staff Side to conclude that whatever savings Staff Side offers, a deal is not achievable as this appears to be about ideologically driven change and not just saving money.
The Staff Side, representing all UK police officers from constable to chief constable, is absolutely frustrated that there was failure to agree despite four months of intense negotiations on the Winsor Part One recommendations, and a willingness by Staff Side to offer alternative proposals and reforms that deliver savings that could exceed the £387 million desired.
Paul McKeever Chairman of PNB Staff Side and the Police Federation of England and Wales said;
"It is extremely frustrating and disappointing that we have been unable to reach agreement today. Staff Side fully engaged in the negotiations from the outset despite the extremely challenging timescales. We worked hard to find alternative reforms that make similar financial savings within the police service but unfortunately these alternatives were rejected by the Official Side. Today, they have made clear that despite government rhetoric, this is about dogma and not a solution to the fiscal situation the country faces.
"Staff Side made clear from the beginning that we would be unable to agree Winsor's recommendations as an entire package because of the considerable financial hardship its proposals would cause for police officers. We remain concerned that some of Winsor's recommendations would seriously inhibit, and in many cases, damage officers' work/life balance. Also, as identified by Winsor, they impact unfairly on female and black and minority ethnic officers.
"We have repeatedly stated during negotiations, we remain unconvinced by the evidence, analysis or arguments set out in support of many of the Winsor recommendations so we couldn't possibly sign up to them all. "We offered proposals which deliver savings that match Winsor's proposals. These include the suspension of superintendents' and chief officers' bonus payments for the coming two years, the suspension of the Special Priority Payment (SPP) budget for three years and a reduction in the rate of casual overtime.
"We now ask that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, keeps the promise she made last year to the police officers of England and Wales to fight our corner and that the government honour the negotiation process and the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. Staff Side firmly believe that we made every effort to reach an agreement with the Official Side and we remain committed to fighting for the fairest deal for police officers throughout the UK."
To read the statement read out in the meeting by the staff side secretary Ian Rennie click Here.
