Pride in our heritage

Conference is concerned that we continued to be classed as a staff association within certain sections of the police service. UNISON is a Trade Union and as such we should take pride in our heritage, Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1) ensure that the term Trade Union is reflected in all dealings with […]

Privatisation and Outsourcing of Police Staff Roles

Conference is asked to show its support to our colleagues who are losing status and jobs, and who are having their terms and conditions undermined and removed by privatisation and collaboration, and requests leadership, advice and guidance from the Service Group Executive. By working together we can protect jobs and the service to the community. […]

Police Staff Council (PSC) Handbook – Section 5 – Return to work after childbirth

‘Conference notes with concern that the provisions in Section 5 of the Police Staff Council Handbook, covering the right to return to work after childbirth, are no longer fit for purpose in the light of recent trends in employment. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to negotiate with the PSC to update the Handbook in […]

Safeguarding our Pay Award

‘Conference wishes to congratulate the SGE on achieving a successful outcome to the Police Staff Pay claim. The current economic climate continues to put a strain on the finances of our members and their families. The agreement will assist in alleviating some of that hardship in particular for our low paid members. Conference acknowledges that […]

Effective Training and Support for Discipline Stewards in the Police Service

‘Our members who find themselves the subject of Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigations deserve the best representation possible. The training provided by UNISON is sufficient for the provision of basic skills for the purposes of representation in a discipline process. For Staff who may find themselves the subject of a Professional Standards Interview where […]

PRIVATISATION WITHIN THE POLICE SERVICE

Conference notes with concern the increase in “partnership working” within all of our public services, which is masking the reality of outsourcing, and undermining the excellent value for money service already being provided by our members. Within the Police Service this is steadily increasing, however at the end of February 2009 Cleveland Police announced that […]

Arrangements for the new Service Group

Conference welcomes Probation and Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCAS) members into the Service Group and hopes they will enjoy similar success to that of Police Staff. Now that Police staff will be Sector based and not a Service Group in our own right, it is it important to ensure that any outstanding […]

Health & Safety of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s)

Conference is concerned that our PCSO members are increasingly being used to fill gaps in front line policing. As a result of this, they are deployed to confrontational situations, and because they are not equipped accordingly, they face ever increasing risks to their health and safety. it is evident that our members are being directed […]

No to Privatisation, No to Outsourcing of our Jobs:

Conference is extremely concerned that our employers (Police Authorities) are using buzz words such as ‘Partnership and Shared Services` to hide their true intentions of creeping privatisation and outsourcing. We welcome the Briefing for police branches on the “South West One” shared services outsourcing project involving Avon & Somerset Police. Were in the midst of […]

DON’T DITCH DEMOCRACY:

Conference welcomes the new structures on bargaining and supports the needs of the union to create a vibrant and flexible organisation that genuinely and effectively reflects the needs of its members, We want to develop our structures so that they are more relevant to our members but part of doing that is to ensure appropriate […]

TIME FOR TIME

Conference we believe our members are disadvantaged in some forces, when they elect to work overtime for time in the book instead of for payment. If the member elected to work overtime for pay they would be in receipt of remuneration at either time and half or double time. However when it comes to working […]

Sickness Absence

This conference is concerned that a two tier sickness absence policy is being operated within the Police Service. Time and time again, police officers enjoy terms and conditions that are far superior to those of police support staff. The Home Office is always telling the general public that all staff within the Police Service are […]

EXTENDED USE OF VOLUNTEERS

This Conference is increasingly concerned about the expanding use of volunteers within Police Forces. We believe that the current economic climate and the impact of stricter budget controls will give Forces an excuse to consider using volunteers in more strategic capacities. Conference recognises this as a significant threat to established Police Staff posts and calls […]

Equipping Staff with Skills

Conference notes that there is a distinct lack of training for Police Staff in operational roles within Police Forces across the country. New staff often have no formal training and are expected to shadow a more experienced staff member until the trainer feels the trainee is competent. No nationally agreed training manuals are available and […]

Improving self organisation in Police Staff Branches

Conference believes that equality is fundamental and that women, black, disabled, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and young members may face particular barriers in the workplace and in getting involved in the union. Indeed many members may face multiple barriers. Conference notes that the police service has had problems in achieving Government recruitment targets […]