Forensic specialists, custody staff, emergency control room workers and other staff at Police Scotland are to be consulted over potential strike action following huge cuts to voluntary redundancy and retirement schemes, says UNISON today (Friday).
Changes announced by the Scottish Police Authority would remove a £10,000 additional lump sum from the voluntary redundancy package, the union says, as well as some other benefits.
UNISON is today launching a consultation among the police staff it represents to see if they would be willing to move to a formal strike ballot.
UNISON Scotland police staff branch secretary David Malcolm said: “This is an unacceptable cut to police staff contracts.
“Whatever the role within the services, policing is a tough job and those who need to leave the service should be supported.
“Senior police officers have benefited from these packages, but now its is being withdrawn for thousands of their colleagues in staff roles.
“It’s now up to these workers, who’re essential to the criminal justice and public safety, whether they want their union to prepare for industrial action.”
Notes for editors
– Police staff include 999 call takers, emergency dispatchers, scenes of crime officers, custody officers, financial investigators, crime analysts, fingerprint experts, counter-terrorism specialists, cyber-crime investigators, digital forensic staff, CCTV operators and many other roles.
– UNISON’s consultative ballot runs from today (Friday 6 June) and closes on Wednesday 18 June
– The Scottish Police Authority announced cuts to the additional lump sum from the voluntary redundancy package, as well as cuts to the staff pension scheme.
– UNISON is largest union in Scotland with its members delivering police services, social care, education, local government, NHS, utilities and energy. They are employed in public, private and voluntary sectors.