Granted their pay award is paltry but so are the rest of the public service awards are,nhs ,mod, fire service and ambulance service , the trouble is none of the above signed a non strike agreement and are represented by trade unions , however the police are not and a strike would be classed as illegal so who would bring them into line , what if the govt brought the army in to do their job like they did with the ambulances and fire service how would they feel ?? Noone as we all told in these services are indespensible!
2007-12-12 05:48:34 · 20 answers · asked by Andrew1968 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Some years ago the government gladly took away many of our rights in exchange for an index linked pay award that reflected what we had given up.
Clearly this government have no intention of honouring that and therefore we are now being awarded similar amounts to other public sector workers. If this is the case then surely we should have the same rights, i.e the right to strike. All we want is fairness from the government. 1.875% is not very fair considering that we cannot take industrial action. The government have saved £40m from not backpaying the award. What they hav'nt told you is that they now have an extra £40m to spend on MP's expenses!!!!
I for one will back any industrial action that is proposed. This is not simply about a few hundred pounds. It is about our rights as workers.
If the government want to bring in the army then so be it. I doubt many soldiers will want to complete the vast paperwork that we have.
Likewise if Jacqui Smith wants a fight she can damn well have one.
2007-12-12 09:39:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Bring in the Army, they are all in bloody Iraq.
This will open a whole can of worms, and I am not sure I want to be around if they do go on strike.
They are only asking for the Government to keep their word on their pay rise.
As you say, they are public sector, and by that definition they are an easy target, the same as the Fire Service etc.
I was behind the Fire Service and I am totally behind the Police Force, the alternative is unthinkable.
2007-12-12 14:02:47 · answer #2 · answered by northern lass 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The main issue Officers have is not so much the sum itself, we understand all Public Services are stretched.
It's also the case that the majority would detest the idea of striking, it is alien in a job which has to be something you really care about.
It is more the fact that in 1979 Lord Edmund Davies set up mechanisms concerning police pay and other matters.
The Edmund Davies mechanisms served to protect the interests of police officers considering their lack of working rights and private life rights, including the right to take industrial action, volunteer to bear firearms or use advanced driving. I give half an hour overtime free "For the Queen" I cannot move house without permission and any spouse will have certain restrictions on them, amongst others
This agreement has stood without question by Officers for many years until the Government decided to sweep it aside, reduce our pay AND then not back date. It shows absolute contempt for what we try to do.
Add to this the increasing inability for us to be able to do our jobs due to Government procedures imposed on us and the removal of any discretion and morale is hitting a new low.
Police officers now feel that without the even modest protection of Edmund Davies they have been taken advantage of and are sitting ducks for further detrimental action by the government.
That is the reason we are reaching a point we need to stand up and make our voices heard. It will only get worse if not
2007-12-12 14:02:27 · answer #3 · answered by Bertie 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
For any government to be faced with strike action by it's police force is intolerable .....for the government that is.
The fact that the British Police....not exactly known for their left wing proclivities...to threaten this is extraordinary!
The level of feeling over this is directly indicative of the immoral, disgusting, manipulative and unethical behaviour of that silly bit*h of a home secretary.
To manipulate a pay negotiation in this way is sick.
The Police force are not so angry about the money...it is the principal that this thieving c*w is allowed to treat them like this.
2007-12-12 13:56:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well said "Bertie". This is not just about money, but the government and their lackeys in the media are sticking to that one issue because they know that many other "frontline" workers earn much less and will therefore be unsupportive. The police need to keep hammering away about the real and wider issues in this matter. I agree that the police are unfairly blamed for what is wrong in the criminal system but at the end of the day they are only following rules and regs. laid down by government. They would have my support, especially if they stood up and told the government once and for all what harm their legislation is doing.
2007-12-12 14:47:20 · answer #5 · answered by Willow 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
If the police were paid decent salaries and given decent salary increases then they wouldn't need to consider striking. How many of you do a job that puts your life at risk routinely and almost all the comments you get about it are derogatory? Strike I say and you'll soon see what they do.
2007-12-12 14:26:23 · answer #6 · answered by CW 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most Police Officers do a good job and for putting themselves in danger every time they go on duty to protect the public they should be paid a decent wage.
2007-12-12 17:00:56 · answer #7 · answered by flint 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Granted all the above public jobs are dangerous. The thing to remember is that the police are the only ones that on a daily basis face losing their life. A routine traffic stop can end in their death. The other jobs come with risk but it is much more in front of them and they have more control over the situation. Police deal with people at their worst. They are peace makers, counselors,at times doctors. They must deal with people hurling insults and still remain polite. How much should this line of work be worth? Would you do it for the pay they are getting now? Think about it.
2007-12-12 13:54:41 · answer #8 · answered by just me 7 · 2⤊ 6⤋
They really need to just get on with it they have had good rises in the past .
The law should be based more on productivity of crimes solved then they might try and catch the villains
2007-12-12 13:54:14 · answer #9 · answered by paulcryo 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They police do have a union. Strike action is possible. The majority have to agree.
2007-12-12 13:55:24 · answer #10 · answered by poppy vox 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋