Police officers in Glasgow protest over 'unacceptable' pay offer

Police officers have taken to the streets of Glasgow to protest in an ongoing dispute over pay.

Dozens of officers protested outside a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority at the Merchant's House of Glasgow on West George Street in the city centre on Thursday morning. David Threadgold, Chair of the Scottish Police Federation, which called the protest, called the pay rise offer of 4.75 per cent 'unacceptable'.

Mr Threadgold said: "We're here to highlight how unfairly we've been treated by the official side and the Scottish government in particular in regard to pay this year. It's simply unacceptable that we haven't had an improved offer."

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Officers carried placards reading 'No strike — fair pay'. Police officers do not have contracts of employment and are prohibited by law from taking industrial action or withdrawing labour.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said it remains committed to achieving a fair outcome. In a letter to members on October 30 the Scottish Police Federation instructed members that all federated officers were to withdraw good-will on November 1.

The measures included concluding tours of duty at the rostered time and not starting shifts early, not take equipment home or use their own power to charge data appliances and radios, and check police vehicles for defects and report any defects to supervisors.

In a letter to the Chief Constable the same day, the Scottish Police Federation General Secretary David Kennedy said: "I need to be clear that the formal withdrawal of good-will is not an action the JCC has endorsed lightly.

"It is borne from sheer disappointment and the strength of feeling of our members for the utter contempt this pay offer represents to them. Police officers feel totally undervalued by the service, and that has been apparent from the surveys that have taken place in the last 6 months from both Police Scotland and the SPF.

"The SPF has consistently demonstrated a willingness to negotiate a fair pay settlement for our members and still remain open to a fair pay proposal before conciliation or arbitration has concluded."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Our officers work tirelessly every day to keep people safe across the country and it is right that their public service is recognised and rewarded. We therefore remain committed to achieving a fair outcome.

"Formal processes are under way to seek an agreement with officers via the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, which is independently led and involves the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland."

A spokesperson for the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said: “ASPS joined our colleagues from the Scottish Police Federation and UNISON today in a public show of the anger and utter disappointment felt by our members.

"Almost an entire eight months after a pay award was due, police officers in Scotland are without a pay deal. With a pay rise imposed on English and Welsh colleagues back in July (by a pay review body that commands no confidence amongst Staff Associations there), it took the Scottish Government a further 3 months to even match that offer.

"Police officers aren’t stupid and know this means less in their take home pay in Scotland, due to higher taxes here. Our pay claim, which the Staff Side revised down in good faith in an attempt to compromise, is simply the same as our public sector colleagues in the NHS received.

"Our members will struggle to deliver the same service without the goodwill of federated colleagues. This will lead to increased cost and decreased output.

"We are already struggling with record low numbers of senior officers coupled with more demand and more risk than ever below. We call on the Scottish Government to do the right thing and come back to the table with an improved offer. It will be a cold Christmas for Scotland’s police officers, otherwise."

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