PAT update
The Police Arbitration Tribunal (PAT) published its award in respect of the Winsor Part 1 recommendations on Monday 9 January 2012.
And, as you are aware, that decision has the status of a Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreement binding on both the Staff Side (rank and file) and Official Side (Government).
In addition to the 18 recommendations referred to the PAT for consideration, a further nine recommendations had previously been agreed in principle between Staff Side and the Official Side. The Home Secretary has not yet ratified these recommendations, preferring to wait until the PAT outcome.
Until she makes her decision and we become fully aware of what is proposed, it is difficult for your local or national Federation representatives to speculate as to any impact on the future pay and conditions of our members.
Before the PAT ruling, we asked the Home Secretary to abide by the panel’s decision and, as such, I feel we must abide by that same decision. To do otherwise would make us appear less than honourable.
On reading the recommendations, I feel that for at least two years the officers who will be hit hardest in their pockets will be those with three to 10 years’ service or those who expected a Competency Related Threshold Payment (CRTP) in the next two years.
And, while on this subject, any officer due to have an incremental rise in pay or make an application for CRTP should continue to do so as there are no changes to the current system until a date is set.
The Winsor review and the PAT ruling leads me to consider the wider issue of the future of our police service. When I joined in 1985, the Government wanted to pay a good salary to get the quality of recruit required for modern day policing. This followed years of police officers living on the ‘breadline’. Salaries therefore rose to an acceptable standard for the role performed.
I feel we are now in danger, dependent upon negotiations and future Governments interfering in policing, of returning to the previous situation. We need salaries, terms and conditions that recognise the unique role we perform.
In the current economic crisis, we understand we have to take our share of the pain. However, we don’t believe it’s fair for us to take more than our share of the burden. The office of constable deserves special recognition. We walk forward when others are running away. We have restrictions placed on our private lives.
Whatever, the decision of the Home Secretary it will require us to deal with and negotiate at PNB to agree the detail as to how and when any changes will be implemented.
I appreciate that there is a thirst for information but I would ask you to be patient as at this stage it could be unhelpful to speculate what the future holds.
Moving forward, our national negotiators will do everything in their power at the PNB to minimise the negative impact the PAT decision could have on police officers.
I think we should continue to acknowledge and support the work they have put in and trust them to do their best to finalise things for us.
Mark Pickard
Chairman
Derbyshire Police Federation |
