Chairman's Update

GOVERNMENT IGNORE AGREEMENT WHICH HAS LASTED 26 YEARS !!!!!

It is sad to report that the Official Side - basically the Home Office - seem to have set aside an agreement on pay which has lasted without much hassle since 1979, which involved the indexation of our pay so that following a disgraceful pay and conditions package throughout the 70s (some of us still remember that!), Police Officers would never again be poorly treated. Last year the Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board indicated they wanted to discuss with the Staff Side various aspects of possible reform to Police pay - again ! This was noted and our negotiators waited for substantive proposals upon which they could negotiate. Nothing was forthcoming. Not long before the latest musical chairs in the Cabinet, our national Chair and Secretary wrote a letter expressing disgust to Charles Clarke and pointed out that no firm proposals had been forthcoming. They also expressed the hope that there would be no defect to current agreements - indeed there could not be without having negotiated them through the PNB.

Unfortunately despite vague promises and a lot of what seems now patronising praise for Police Officers at our Conference from the new Home Secretary, John REID, nothing further was forthcoming in terms of pay reform. When PNB took place in July, which is usually the meeting where the annual pay rise is confirmed - and the agreed mechanisms by which this is assessed indicate that our rise this year should be 3% - the Official Side did not confirm the uplift. Our negotiators immediately indicated this would go to Conciliation, after which the Home Secretary was reported as saying it was `a misunderstanding'.

Well it can no more be regarded as a misunderstanding, as Conciliation took place this week and no agreement was reached. This means that this year's expected pay rise will now go to arbitration, expected around 22nd September. There can be no pay rise now of any kind, probably until December pay cheques.
Officers have been contacting us all week expressing disgust - and we know from our national network this is happening all over the country. Our national leaders have expressed publicly anger on our behalf at what is a disgraceful breach of an agreement. We must wait for them to progress to Arbitration, and await the result with interest. We encourage members to wait patiently for that result, after which ........ let's wait and see!

STRESS AUDIT RESULTS AVAILABLE - but note the name change !!

We fully supported the stress audit - as it was known last year - and have always believed that it would be a useful product if well supported. We know some of you had doubts, as was mentioned at our 2005 Open Meeting, particularly about very private issues being questioned. However the good news is that 62% of Sussex Police responded, which has enabled a very reliable report from Zeal Consultants, who have also been able to compare our results with three other Forces.

We encourage you to view their report, but please bear in mind the title of it has changed from the familiar Stress Audit to the `Improving Working Life survey'. You can find it on the HRD website under Health, Safety and Welfare and then look for the new title.

It takes some time to read, but is worth the effort. We have been a little disappointed that we have not been consulted much since the report was received, but would encourage you to let us know your thoughts as we will be debating the conclusions and recommendations at our next Joint Branch Board on 20th October. Either e-mail your views to the office or let your local Reps know what you think.

CLAIMS SETTLED FOR OUR MEMBERS IN 2005

Total Legal Claims settled since 1992 = £5,748,096.80
Total CICA Claims settled since 1990 = £1,197,752.50
Federation 'Friends' supported & assisted 365 officers during 2005 where Regulation 9 Notices have been served.