A planned strike involving UNISON police staff set down for Monday 22 December has been suspended, pending further negotiations between the union and employers.
A month-long ban on voluntary overtime, which was due to start on 5 January 2015, has also been withdrawn to allow further talks to take place.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Suspending the strike action provides a window of opportunity for positive talks between UNISON and the employers. We welcome the decision by the employers to work with the union to achieve an improved offer which we can put to our members.”
“UNISON is serious about getting a better deal for police staff this year. Our members play a crucial role in keeping our communities safe and they deserve a salary that recognises this.
UNISON members in the police service work in jobs such as 999 call takers, police community support officers, scenes of crime officers, fingerprint experts, financial investigators, detention officers, crime reduction officers, crime analysts, enquiry desk officers, trainers, criminal justice clerks, and a wide range of vital operational and organisational support roles.
Earlier this year the union asked for a 3%, or £500, increase (whichever is the greater) on police staff pay points. The police employers responded with another 1% offer. 60% voted yes for industrial action and 80% for action short of strike action in a ballot which closed on 2 December 2014.
UNISON represents 30,000 police staff in England and Wales.
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