UNISON welcomes agreement with Police Scotland which addresses key concerns

UNISON Scotland has agreed to cancel the consultative ballot of police staff on whether to take further industrial action up to and including strike action. The trade union say the outcome of discussions with Police Scotland and the agreement made at the Joint Negotiating Consultative Committee today (17 April 2014) have been welcomed by UNISON members, as they address key concerns previously raised by UNISON.

It has been agreed that police staff:

· will receive better supernummery protection and guarantees around job relocation and job security
· will receive 1 year protection of allowances as well as basic pay
· who have their leave restricted because of the Commonwealth Games will receive an additional one day’s annual leave

Gerry Crawley, UNISON regional officer said:
‘UNISON is pleased that we will recommence negotiations with Police Scotland and we have agreed to cancel our consultative ballot which had been due to start today. UNISON members now have some protection and guarantees around job relocation and job security which is hugely important. We also have an agreement to protect basic pay and allowances. And UNISON members whose leave is being restricted over the Commonwealth Games in the summer will receive an additional ones days annual leave.

'We still have a lot to do over the coming months. UNISON members are resolute in their determination to protect as many local jobs and local services as we can. UNISON will continue to work hard to support our members through what will be very difficult times ahead.’

END

Notes to editors

As communicated previously, UNISON withdrew their participation in the Joint Negotiating Consultative Committee last month and announced they would run a consultative ballot of their members after raising a number of key concerns including:

· the implementation of changes to the voluntary redundancy and early retirement package for 2014/15;

· the Commonwealth Games 2014 pay claim, specifically relating to members that had an annual leave restriction resulting from the games;

· the impact of organisational change on staff in the Dumfries area as a result of the closure of the force control and service centre.