Thurs 25 August 2005

First ever Scottish police staff strike starts

The first strike action in the history of Scotland's police staff negotiations began at 00.01am Thursday 25 August, with the walkout of control room staff, information assistants, reception and fingerprint staff.

The strike is scheduled to run for 24 hours and was decided by almost 4,000 police support staff who are members of UNISON, following the failure of CoSLA, Scotland's Police employers, to make a pay offer that reflects either the budget they have given their forces, or the amount they have already agreed to pay local government staffs.

Peter Veldon UNISON Regional Organiser (Police) said. "It is deeply disappointing that CoSLA have not improved their offer despite pressure from all sides in this dispute. Their refusal to offer as much to police staffs as they have already agreed to pay their own staff, and their failure to even to use all the money that they gave to forces for staff pay, have led to staff feeling frustrated, angry and devalued.

"Police staff are crucial in providing effective policing in Scotland. They have never before voted for strike action. However the obdurate refusal of CoSLA to negotiate realistically means they have no other option"

There are around 4,000 unionised police staff in Scotland , delivering professional, technical, and administrative back up to police officers in control rooms, forensic science labs, at scenes of crimes, and in police stations.

Cover has been agreed for emergencies, but it is clear that striking staff will leave a major hole in police services and make clear how vital their jobs are.

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Peter Veldon (Regional Officer) 07969 478 254(m) Raymond Brown (Chair TU negotiators) 07050 200 504(m) Maureen Braid (Vice Chair TU Negotiators) 07723 051128(m) Chris Bartter(Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

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