Unions have cut a deal to improve the work-life balance of thousands of police staff as cuts to forces mean smaller workforces, UNISON has announced today (Thursday).
As a result, police support staff will be able to exercise greater control over their working lives and improve their well-being at a time of increasing job-related stress, says UNISON.
The new package also includes improvements to maternity pay, annual leave and other allowances such as adoption pay and death in service benefit.
UNISON members voted nearly nine-to-one (87%) in favour, and contract changes come into force from 1 April 2017.
UNISON national police officer Ben Priestley said: “Police forces have suffered as many financial cuts as any other public service.
“So it has taken hard and skilled negotiations to win these improvements that have been overwhelmingly approved by police staff.
“Now we need to make sure the changes are implemented and police staff can get on with the jobs they love to do.”
Notes to editors:
– Full details of the deal can be found on the UNISON website here.
– The ballot ran from 23 January to 10 February 2017.
– Changes to the police staff council handbook come into effect from 1 April 2017
Media contacts:
Alan Weaver T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
Joe Lewis T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07970 863 411 E: j.lewis5@unison.co.uk
