Blues And Twos - Police Officer's Blog

Blues and Twos - Police & Law Blog is a an amalgamation of thoughts, feelings and observations on news, current affairs and UK policing in general. Our police blog has contributions from officers of the rank of Inspector (Organ Grinder) down to Constable (Monkey). Blues and Twos - The Police Officer's Blog

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Friday, August 18, 2006

Public Sector Pay

Public sector pay disputes are once again in the news.

Police officers are not the only public servants currently in dispute with the government over their failure to meet previously agreed pay terms and conditions.

Apparently Gordon Brown is heading for a confrontation with six chairmen of independent public sector pay review bodies, over his demand to limit pay rises for millions of public sector workers to less than 2% next year.

The review bodies are likely to ignore the chancellor, who has lobbied for modest increases for the armed services, doctors and dentists, nurses and other health professionals, teachers, and prison officers. In his letter to the chairs, Mr Brown said that they should not use rising mortgage rates or fuel costs as a reason for going beyond his target.

Geoff Lewtas, national pay coordinator for the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: "If the Treasury does decide to try to enforce the 2% figure there is bound to be a big increase in disputes and strikes across Whitehall."

The battle comes as prison officers voted to strike over last April's settlement, and as tube workers said they were also considering industrial action over pay.

The Prison Officers' Association believes that the Prison Service leant on the pay review body last year to award a 1.6% rise. Colin Moses, POA national chairman, said the 29,000-strong union was demanding talks with the prisons minister Gerry Sutcliffe."What we now see is clear interference in the pay review body. Our members have taken a pay cut."

A statement from the Prison Service said: "It is of grave concern that the POA are likely to take action in breach of a legally binding agreement. If necessary the Prison Service will seek legal remedy."

A confidential Prison Service memo warns that industrial action will have "serious potential for loss of control" and "cause further difficulties in accommodating prisoners sentenced by the courts at a point when the prison population is at an all time high".

For further information, click public sector pay row.
3%? We'll be lucky.....
Police Pay Crisis End In Sight
Police Pay
Police Wages

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