- Conference
- 2022 Police & Justice Service Group Conference
- Date
- 14 June 2022
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises that the cost of living crisis now affecting UNISON members in the UK is the worst for 30 years.
Inflation is currently running at 9% (March 2022), which is the highest level in three decades. For the value of police, probation and CAFCASS staff salaries not to fall back even further, they must at least keep pace with predicted rises in the cost of living. Treasury forecasts for inflation put this at 7.4% in 2022.
Police and justice members have experienced an enormous surge in costs over the last year, including:
1)A 29% increase in gas bills;
2)A 21% increase in petrol prices;
3)A 19% increase in electricity bills;
4)A 10% rise in the price of buying a house and a 9% jump in rent for a new rental property.
These demands on pay packets will be even greater against the background of the 1.25% increase to National Insurance contributions over 2022/23.
Conference therefore calls upon the Service Group Executive to work with each of the sectors in the Service Group to highlight the ongoing impact of the cost of living crisis and to support the work of sectors in seeking to raise the living standards of members via annual pay claims and other associated claims.