- Conference
- Police Service Group Conference 2003
- Date
- 20 February 2003
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference welcomes the publication of the first ever national attitude survey of UNISON police staff members. UNISON now has a more accurate picture of the way in which police staff members are working, how they feel about their jobs and what they want UNISON to achieve on their behalf.
Conference notes with concern the following findings from the survey:
1)over half our members do not feel valued by their police force;
2)63% believe that there is a status divide between police staff and police officers;
3)64% do not believe that they are being well-paid for the job they do;
4)76% say workloads have increased;
5)66% say stress levels have grown.
Conference also notes that:
a)despite these unwelcome findings, the survey also uncovered an underlying positive attitude among police staff to ways in which the Service might improve in the future;
b)a large majority of members (63%) felt that police staff were not resistant to change and 88% felt that they themselves were not resistant to change;
c)when asked what factors could improve the Police Service, members suggested.
i)greater recognition of police staff input (68%);
ii)better management (57%);
iii)protected pay and conditions (53%)
iv)improved training opportunities (51%).
What emerges from the survey is a police staff workforce which is working flexibly and is open to change and modernisation but, at the same time, is being held back by old-fashioned notions of status, lack of managerial support and poor rewards.
In view of the results of the survey, Conference instructs the Executive to:
A)continue the Campaign at PSSC level for fair and equitable terms and conditions for all within the Police Service;
B)ensure that the forthcoming Home Office guidance on civilianisation tackles the old-fashioned notion of a two-tier (police officer/police staff) workforce and promotes genuine team-working as part of a one-service culture;
C)promote examples of good practice where police forces have raised the status and esteem of the police staff workforce;
D)work within the Home Office Police Leadership Development Project to encourage modern management styles appropriate to the changing workforce.