- Conference
- 2024 Police, Probation and CAFCASS Conference
- Date
- 18 June 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that the Real Living Wage, as calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is based on what people need to get by, uses the best available evidence about living standards in the UK and draws on the Minimum Income Standard to identify everyday living cost basket of goods through public consensus.
A 2021 Cardiff Business School survey of accredited Real Living Wage employers found 94% said their organisation benefited from paying it, 87% said it improved their reputation and 62% said it improved recruitment outcomes.
The Real Living Wage is paid by over 14,000 UK organisations who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets every day needs.
At the time of writing this motion only 13 Police Forces and nine Police and Crime Commissioner Offices are accredited as Real Living Wage Employers (including the Metropolitan Police)
Conference welcomes the fact that, in recent years, the Trade Union Side Police Staff Council (PSC) pay claim has included the demand for a guarantee that no pay points fall below the value of the Real Living Wage.
Conference also welcomes the pressure of UNISON representatives on the Police Staff Council to keep the pressure on low pay which has contributed to the deletion of PSC pay point 7 and a mid-year pay rise for the very lowest paid in the Police Service in England and Cymru/Wales.
Conference believes that in the context of the ongoing cost of living crises caused by recent rocketing inflation rates, a wage rate that is based on the pay needed for people to get by is more important than ever.
Conference therefore calls upon the Service Group Executive to work with the Police Staff Sector Committee to:
a)Continue to prioritise addressing low pay in the Police Service in England and Wales through pay negotiations and other work on the Police Staff Council
b) Encourage all branches where the local force or PCC Offices are not accredited Real Living Wage Employers to campaign for local accreditation until all Police Forces and PCC Offices where UNISON organise are Real Living Wage Employers.