Reproduced below is a recent
report from our General Secretary.
"PAY NEGOTIATIONS
FEDERATED RANKS - PAY AWARD 2001.
On Thursday 19th
July 2001 agreement was reached on the pay award for the federated ranks for
2001. The median of private sector non-manual total pay settlements was
revealed as 3.5% and federated ranks pay was increased by 3.5% as from 1st
September. Dog Handler's Allowance was also increased by 3.5% from 1st
September.
CADETS' PAY AWARDS 2000 & 2001.
It was also agreed that
cadets' pay be increased by 3% back-dated to 1st September 2000, and
by 3.5% from 1st September 2001.
ADDITIONAL PAY CLAIM.
You may remember that in
July 2000, I explained that the Staff Side had submitted a claim in addition to
the annual index. That claim amounted to 12%, 4% per annum over 3 years. I
explained in that Bulletin and in a later one dated December 2000, that the Official
Side had all but formally rejected that claim but offered instead, a Joint
Working Party (JWP) to "examine the remuneration of the federated ranks
with the objective of ensuring a cohesive national pay structure which meets
the current and future needs of the police service."
In order to fully explore
options, it was necessary for the JWP to agree a protocol as follows - Discussions
within the joint working party are without commitment by either Side
subsequently to progress proposals within Committee 'C' in the normal
way." (Note: 'Committee 'C' is now called the Federated Ranks
Committee.)
This protocol is the reason
why I have been unable to release details of the negotiations that have taken
place. In the December 2000 Bulletin, I did say that shorter pay scales for
constables and sergeants (enabling early access to top rates) and de-coupling
the pay scales of inspectors and chief inspectors were amongst the issues being
discussed. At that time we had not discussed how this would be paid for and I
forecast that the Official Side would look to cover at least some of the cost
of pay improvements by looking elsewhere in the pay and allowances package for
savings.
Frustratingly, the above
protocol is still in place and I am unable to go any further into details of
the negotiations that there have been to date. All I can say is that the
negotiations have covered all aspects of pay and allowances but have not come
up with anything like a final deal as yet. There are however a number of
related factors that I would like you to know about.
POLICE REFORM PROGRAMME IN ENGLAND AND WALES
It will not have escaped
your notice that following the General Election the Labour Government promised
to 'reform public services' with the Prime Minister saying he was ready to take
on the unions and that "reform is not negotiable". David Blunkett,
the new Home Secretary wasted no time in following his leader and promised
Police Reform. Most newspapers backed the government and in relation to the
police we saw a number of highly critical articles and editorials with the
Police Federations being described as resistant to change and "amongst the
powerful of the old style unions". The Police Reform Programme is being
discussed by all interested parties south of the border. They are looking at a
wide range of issues including: -
Tackling Criminality - the employment of specialist civilian investigators
for IT crime and fraud.
Providing Reassurance - single patrolling, payments to special constables,
neighbourhood wardens, additional powers for traffic wardens.
Leadership & Efficiency - fast track promotion i.e. superintendent within 5
years.
Science and Technology - a new central body to consider such matters.
In Scotland as you know,
policing is a devolved issue with the Scottish Parliament having primacy over
most decisions which affect policing. What Tony Blair and David Blunkett say
about policing is not of direct interest in Scotland. Their comments about
payments for the Special Constabulary, employment of neighbourhood wardens or
private security operatives for police patrolling duties are not on any
Scottish agenda meantime.
Of course the PNB is a
different matter. Post devolution, it is now a Cross - Border public body, and
our pay and negotiable conditions are still dealt with at a UK level. In a
roundabout way, the Police Reform Programme in England and Wales has effected
our negotiations on the Federated Ranks JWP. Although there have been no firm
proposals from the Police Reform Programme on police pay or any other negotiable
condition of service, the Official Side know as well as we do that such
subjects have been discussed. Annual duty rosters, shift allowances and
overtime have all been discussed at the Police Reform Programme meetings so
far. It is possible that these discussions will result in proposals for the PNB
to consider. The Official Side, understandably, are concerned that their costs
are going to be increased as a result of the Federated Ranks JWP, and possibly
increased again as a result of the Police Reform Programme. For that reason,
the Official Side want to know precisely what their exposure is and have been
delaying our talks. There has been no movement in our JWP discussions since
June 2001.
Conclusion
There is a meeting of the
JWP planned for the end of September* and meetings of the Federated Ranks
Committee planned in October. I hope there will be some developments that I can
report to you following these meetings.
Douglas J Keil QPM
General Secretary
September 2001"
(* This meeting was cancelled, without explanation, by
the Home Office three days before it was scheduled to take place. JBF )
GROUP INSURANCES
A number of the Federation
insurance schemes were due for renewal on 21st October 2001.
Detailed below are changes to premiums and levels of cover which have been
driven by our recent claims experience.
Group Life Cover (deducted
under code 827)
Member premiums & cover
remain unchanged at £1.74 per member per week for cover of £100.000.
Member's spouse premium has
been increased from £0.82 to £2.48 per week hence Member & Spouse premium
is now £4.22 per member per week - cover remains unchanged for spouse of
£50,000.
Group Personal Accident
(GPA) (deducted under code 828)
This scheme includes Total
Disablement & "Casting" Benefit, Salary Replacement Scheme (for
those placed on half/no pay), Critical Illness Scheme, Legal Protection Scheme,
Stress Counselling Helpline and the Travel Insurance Scheme and individual
elements are not available separately.
GPA premiums remain
unchanged at £5.34 per member per week and moves from £6.87 to £6.63
per member per week for those you have critical illness cover for their spouse.
Insurers have reduced
critical Illness cover from £50,000 to £25,000 in respect of both Member
and Member's Spouse.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If a claim is paid for any
of the 18 conditions detailed in the Critical Illness Policy, no further claim
will be permitted for any of the other condition or for any claim under the
Lump Sum Capital Benefit Scheme for early ill health retiral. On payment of a
critical illness claim - premiums for both critical illness and lump sum
benefit scheme will cease to be taken from members who will no longer be
insured under these schemes.
Coronary artery bypass
surgery, heart attack, heart transplant and stroke are regarded as one insured
illness i.e. if a person has previously undergone coronary artery bypass
surgery, payment of benefit would be excluded for that condition and for heart
attack, heart transplant and stroke.
Our Insurance Broker has
been engaged in a thorough and extensive marketing exercise and advises that
these arrangements continue to represent excellent value for money and are
significantly less than an individual seeking similar cover would expect to
pay.
JOINT
BRANCH BOARD MEETING
The next Joint Branch Board
Meeting will take place on 5th December 2001 at the Lochardil House
Hotel, Stratherrick Road, Inverness. Any items for inclusion on the agenda
should be in the hands of the undersigned by Friday, 23rd November
2001.
SCOTTISH POLICE CREDIT UNION
The Scottish Police Credit
Union provides its members wish a convenient way to save, low cost loans, and
non-contributory insurance package. Anyone looking for information on how to
become a member can contact them through their web site www.spcu.org.uk or by
contacting the Federation Office.
JOHN B FINNIE, JBB Secretary
26th October 2001
