Police Federation Launches Poll on whether Police Officers want Industrial Rights

Monday, 03 March, 2008

At a national meeting held on Friday 29th Febraury in Birmingham, aimed to coincide with the Labour Party spring conference, the Police Federation of England and Wales launched a poll of its 140,000 members.

The decision to hold the poll comes in light of the Home Secretary's decision not to implement in full the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal on police officer pay.

Police officers will be asked whether they wish the Federation to begin to lobby for full industrial rights for them.

The meeting comes a month after the march through central London, when over 25,000 off-duty officers let the Government know the true extent of their anger over the decision not to honour in full the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal (PAT), and shows the matter has still not been resolved.

At the first meeting of meeting of the Police Negotiation Board (PNB) of 2008, the Federation and Staff Side of PNB made clear that they regard last year's pay settlement as unfinished business.

Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told the 400 Federation leaders gathered:

"I cannot begin to describe what a sad day it is that we have reached the point when we are even talking of lobbying for industrial rights. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that.

"Police officers talking of striking. That alone should tell this government everything they need to know about just how far they have pushed us.

"I guarantee every police officer in England and Wales that the Police Federation, nationally and locally, will fight tooth and nail to ensure that they are protected, treated fairly and rewarded suitably for the sacrifices they make."

Also showing support at the meeting were TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber and Chairman of the Association of Police Authorities, Bob Jones. They were joined by General Secretary of the Police Federation and Staff Side of PNB, John Francis.

Two questions will appear on the poll, which will be undertaken by independent research company Ipsos MORI:

1. Do you think the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal should be binding on the government?

2. In the absence of binding arbitration on the government, do you wish the Police Federation of England and Wales to start to lobby for a change in legislation to allow police officers full industrial rights?

The survey will be conducted both online and via paper questionnaires.

Police Federation members will be able to access the online survey via www.polfed.org and Local Federation Branch Boards will also have paper questionnaires that can be distributed. Final details regarding distribution is still being finalised with branch boards.

The survey will go live from 24th March. The online poll with close on 2nd May, and the paper poll will close on 25th April. The results will be available at the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth in May.

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