|
Claim for on-call allowance set for arbitration after failure to agree is registered
Despite the Police Arbitration Tribunal (PAT) deciding in August last year that police officers should receive a national on call allowance, negotiations to agree a payment have failed after the Official Side finally offered a derisory £10.
Staff Side of the PNB has had to refer the matter back to the PAT for them to decide on a figure.
Being on call means that a police officer must be fit for duty and available to attend their workplace when they are off duty. This claim was to recompense officers for the disruption to their family lives and to introduce a financial cost that would stop Chief Officers from placing officers on call unnecessarily and using it as a cheap option to provide operational cover. £10 fails to recognise the level of disruption and is significantly below the amount paid to police staff and below the amount currently paid to some police officers by some forces.
We have issued the following statement to the media:
Ian Rennie, Staff Side Secretary of the Police Negotiating Board and General Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales says;
"There is no requirement within Police Regulations for officers to be on call. Officers undertake 'On Call' voluntarily often as part of performing a particular policing role. Forces have come to rely too much on the goodwill of officers who put their personal and family lives on hold when they are off duty. Disappointingly, the Official Side of PNB is unwilling to recognise this commitment. "
- ENDS -
A more detailed statement can be found on the Police Federation of England and Wales website at:
http://www.polfed.org/mediacenter/8DC1992790CB42B7AF92F657936003FC.asp
Forwarded for your information and to circulate as you wish.
Regards
Metin Enver
Head of Communications
The Police Federation of England and Wales
| 
