So what is the MN opinion on the police pay?

[FlossALump]

I'd be interested to know what others think, really. I/m not sure my viewpoint is what it is supposed to be!!

The issue is that in return for banning Police from being unionised (hence Police Federation, rather than Union), the Government have agreed a set formula by which Police pay rises should be calculated.

The Government have reneged on this agreement.

I believe everyone should have the right to withdraw his or her labour.

police perils others don't face - emmm try working A&E or RSU and forensics. police bring disruptive clients in and hand over responsibility to staff who frequently get bopped

I don't think it's helpful to compare who deserves more than who. The point is that, as BarryScott says they had an agreement and the Government think they can ride rough shod as per.

Aren't nurses the professional most likely to get assaulted in the course of their worK?

It was agreed that they would have the back pay of the pay deal when agreed - now this goverment have gone back on there word - appears yet again they have no morals.

If the goverment can back down on there deal why on earth can't the police decide to strike, if the police do strike then it surely will be this goverments responsability.

Why should the goverment hold the police to ransom?

The government also went against the independant body who set out what should be nurses pay rise (also 2.5%). The governent staged that, 1.5 and then 2.5 after 6 months. Going on mat leave after 5 probably means I loose out even more.

I'm just quite at how loud a noise the police are making about it all. But then those who make the most noise get dealt with the quickest and usually with the best service which the police and obviously DP know only too well, he says it always p him off, until obviously it is for a cause in his court!!

I think the thing is Flossalump, no-one has banned nurses from striking over their pay (though obviously nurses are far too moral to consider this)
The police are banned by law from striking over pay, therefore there needs to be some mechanism by which they can ensure they are not royally screwed.
there was.
now there isn't.

ps - I am a mental health social worker (ASW), so I do know what it's like to receive abuse from the public you're trying to help, in return for a pathetic pay rise.

They're making a lot of noise about it because at the moment that's all they can do.

No leverage.

Floss that would be an increase of more than 2.5% - ??

Yes it is about time noise was made, if nurses want to go on strike then I would also back them.

Look at what is happening in Italy at the moment - mayhem, but I bet they will get something done, The French always stick to their guns and seem to get a far better deal than us who fall over and play dead rather than cause a fuss.....

When the next election comes along, will anyone actually vote out this mickey mouse govenment and put someone else in charge?

Alot of people complain about the government but then when push comes to shove just tick the Labour box to be safe or because they can't be bothered to find out about other parties.

I can assure you Sparkley christmas tree I have voted in every single election since I turned 18, and I will also state I havn't always voted for the same party.

Will vote at the next general election to get ride - hopefully, of this goverment.

Does this just affect the Police in England and Wales then, or do the Scottish and NI ones get included?

Scottish police have had a backdated payrise. This is England, Wales and NI I think.

My DP is a police officer, and for us its simple. If you agree a pay rise you backdate it??? The rise was never going to be huge, but this has made it worse.

I will say I do not think the police should be allowed to strike and neither does dp. he is worried that they will go down the work to rule route, and that could be just as bad.

Insane....

good point edam.

However, I think if a Granny gets mugged when the police are on strike because the government is reneging on pay deals then the government is to blame, not the police.

When I see some belt-tightening on the part of the people asking everybody else to take a de facto pay cut I'll take talk of inflation and shortage of funds seriously.

Our local Police Authority say they have the funds to pay it, but the Government have tied their hands.

DH (a copper) doesn't think this is worth striking over, it's just another example of Gordon the Grasper to him. We do both feel slightly aggrieved that the Scottish police have got theirs backdated, and the English and Welsh police haven't, but as far as we're concerned, it's the principle, not the amount of cash being withheld.

As an aside - DH was a young copper during the miner's strike. He really enjoyed spending 12-15 hour shifts on the picket lines, when his father, and many other family members and friends were on strike and on t'other side of the line. NOT.

But when granny has been mugged, and you stand up and point the finger at the government, Granny will still have been mugged. It isn't about blaming the appropriate person, it is about preventing Granny from being mugged in the first place.

And, if the police go on strike illegally, they will be no better than the government. So, if that happens, the police would be just as much to blame.

Nurses are the professionals most likely to be assualted and we are not allowed to fight back. I have worked in hospitals where ER nurses have to wear bullet proof vests. I have lost count of the number of times I have had knifes pulled on me as a nurse. I had a relative slam a table into my abdomen breaking a rib when I was 4 months pregnant and the hospital threatened me if I tried to press charges against the guy.

Registered Nurses (at a minumum) have 3x the level of education that a copper is required to have to do his job.

I don't want to see the police get screwed but my dh is one and they have it pretty damn good for the most part. He was a nurse and switched to being a copper and says it is easy money and less scary compared to ITU nursing. The coppers also have much more family friendly hours compared to nurses. They have to do all shifts but it is much more organised

The police and nurses are unable to strike and the government takes advantage of this. We often work many many hours of overtime that goes completely unpaid. We (nurses) work 15 hour days without a break sometimes but still get paid time deducted for breaks. The unions know but at the end of the day if we won't strike we just have to suck it up.

It's not really about nurses v coppers (or any other profession) though is it?

It's about the government reneging on an agreement (again).

Some nurses and coppers have a doddle of a job compared to some of their colleagues. I would agree that the set shift pattern in the police force does help...until they get their shifts changed at the drop of a hat, and this does happen regularly to some officers, often for no good reason.

My DH has worked in the duties office and he says that they have to give 3 months notice in order to change their shifts. I get a few days and no right to opt out if I don't have child care or whatever.

But you are right, it isn't about nurses vs coppers it is the fact that the goverment takes advantage of our good will and abuses us.

Indeed. Not all coppers are on a straighforward shift pattern.
I'll declare my interest here, and add that as a specialist detective my DH often works 20+ hour shifts, as he has to see his pieces of work through til the bitter end.

The police won't strike illegally.

The ones I know, like rebel's dh just feel righly aggrieved that they are being treated badly and the Government know that there is little they can do about it.

Lots of people are poorly paid, many professions face risks at work, many employees are shafted by the bosses - it doesn't make it right and I think it's a poor show when people use that as an excuse not to show support.

DH can receive a phone call on the morning and have to go into work early.

He's not in a specialised post.

Although in the attachment he had earlier this year he could go to work and come back two days later, etc etc.