POLICE officers in Fife could be "taken advantage of" due to their inability to strike in their battle for fair pay.
That's the view of Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley who has written to the Scottish Justice secretary to raise his concerns.
The Scottish Police Federation has called on Scottish Ministers to match the 5.5 per cent pay rise given to nurses and other NHS workers in Scotland which David Kennedy, the organisation's general secretary, described as “a fair deal for the frontline police officers.”
Mr Rowley has expressed fears that officers “will be taken advantage of” in pay negotiations as they are legally barred from striking or withdrawing labour.
He said this meant they don't have “the same opportunity at recourse" that other public sector workers have.
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“This is the second year in a row that I have had concerned constituents who are serving police officers contact me over their dissatisfaction with the offer they have been made for a pay increase," he said.
“I have written to the Justice Secretary to raise my concerns that serving police officers will be taken advantage of as they do not have the same opportunity at recourse other public sector workers have in being able to strike for a fair pay settlement.
“Police officer numbers are already too low – we have lost 2.4 per cent full time equivalent police officers in the last year – and unless the SNP Government are willing to make a fair offer to officers, we are likely to lose even more.
“Police officers are being overlooked and undervalued – it is crucial that the SNP start taking policing seriously.”
Mr Kennedy described the offer of a 4.75 per cent rise as “not good enough” and, with the Scottish Government having been provided with extra cash as a result of the UK Budget, he appealed to ministers to “give our officers the pay deal they deserve."
Without an increased pay offer, members of the SPF were set to withdraw their goodwill from 5pm on Friday in protest, with the action to continue “until further notice”.
Police are by law not permitted to go on strike, but Mr Kennedy said they could look at stepping up the action.
"We are just so tired of the way we are being treated by Government, and the 4.75 per cent offer they have come in with is not good enough," he added.
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The “withdrawal of good will” action will mean police officers will not start work early, stop shifts at their scheduled end time, not take personal protective equipment or other police items home and test all vehicles prior to beginning work.
Police officers will still work overtime if requested but will claim payment afterwards.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We have made what we believe to be a very fair offer of 4.75 per cent to police officers, which is above inflation and higher than any pay increase agreed within the Scottish public sector, excluding the NHS.
“This is the maximum affordable offer in the face of public finances that remain under severe pressure.
“The process for agreeing officer pay is ongoing. Unions representing police staff are currently balloting their members and we await their outcome.
“Police officers in Scotland have consistently been the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank.”
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