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Date: 17 August 2005

Police staff vote two to one for strike over pay

The strike ballot of Scotland's police support called after pay talks broke down last month, has resulted in a two-to-one vote in favour of strike action said UNISON , the union that represents Scotland's police staff today (Wednesday 17 August). A

lmost 70% voted for strike action after Scottish employers offered only 2.95% and 2.5% for pay rises over the next two years. This is the first strike action vote in the history of Scotland's police staffs negotiations, and it comes on the day that the Police Support Staffs Council (the Scottish Negotiating Body) meets in Edinburgh.

"This is a stunning vote that expresses exactly the frustration that police staff feel." Said Raymond Brown, Chair of the trade union negotiators. "It is especially frustrating as we know that Chief Constables want to resolve this issue. And that police forces can afford a better offer. We hope that our employers take the opportunity today to improve an offer that has already been rejected."

Industrial action is due to begin later in August unless there are further substantive approaches from employers. Other trade unions in the negotiating panel are also believed to be moving towards a ballot.

Peter Veldon UNISON Regional Organiser (Police) said. "Police staff are crucial in providing effective policing in Scotland. They do not want to strike. The fact that they have never voted for action before proves that. However they have now said clearly they will not lie down and be treated unfairly compared to other public sector workers in Scotland. A decent offer is both affordable and fair, to maintain otherwise is to devalue the work these staff do." T

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

ENDS

Note for Editors: Police staffs voted by 68.6% to 31.4% to take strike action in the dispute over the 2005-7 pay settlement. The return was 46.4%. The meeting of the Police Staffs Council takes place today at CoSLA in Edinburgh. Further details re any proposed industrial action will be announced later.

Police Staff minisite

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