Date: 17 August 2005

Police staff to strike on Thursday 25 August

The first strike action in the history of Scotland's police staffs negotiations is set to go ahead on Thursday 25 August, following the failure of Scotland's Police employers to make any further offer at the Police Support Staffs Council (the Scottish Negotiating Body) in Edinburgh earlier today.

Peter Veldon UNISON Regional Organiser (Police) said. "It is deeply disappointing that Scotland's Police employers will not offer as much to police staffs as they have already agreed to pay their own staff. Add to that their failure to even to use all the money that forces have budgeted for staff pay, and you can see why staff feel frustrated, angry and devalued.

"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 unless there is some movement this is what will happen a week on Thursday."

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.

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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