Police officers are “at the end of their tether” and need a “proper pay deal for Christmas”, bodies representing them have said as they staged a protest over pay.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers, has said the Scottish Government’s offer of a 4.75% pay rise is not good enough and it is seeking a 5.5% increase in line with that offered to NHS workers in Scotland.
SPF members were joined by members of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), who are covered by the same pay deal, at the protest outside a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority in Glasgow on Thursday.
Police officers are prohibited by law from going on strike but can choose to withdraw goodwill, or work to rule, as a means of expressing dissatisfaction.
The SPF announced at the end of October that officers would be withdrawing their goodwill until further notice while the ASPS earlier this month advised members to adhere to their “core duty hours” as the dispute escalated.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, said police are fed up of being treated like a second class public service and are seeking a “fair and reasonable” pay deal.
“We’re here protesting because we know there’s questions that have to be asked and why the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland believe that police officers in Scotland are worth less than that of the NHS.
“We’ve come out today because we are the end of our tether. Officers are tired of being treated like I said, as a second class public service, when we are certainly not, and we have to protest now to ask that they change their ways and actually look at the pay deal they’ve offered us.”
He said the SPF has estimated the goodwill of officers is worth £6 million a year to the police service.
Mr Kennedy said: “It’s that goodwill that keeps the service afloat, and we know that it’s the goodwill that is making police officers go off sick, with stress, off sick with work.
“Look at what’s happened in Scotland: Over the last 10 years, we’ve lost over 1,000 officers, yet the workloads for police officers keeps rising, and so does the sickness rate.
“We are wanting a fair and reasonable pay offer.”
The ASPS cut its claim from 5.7% to 5.5%, previously describing this as a “fair and reasonable” compromise.
Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, president of the ASPS, said on Thursday: “As policing heads into one of the busiest times for us over Christmas, Scotland’s police officers have yet to secure a suitable pay deal, and we’ve got to this point in the year, so we’re out to show the strength of feeling that exists within the police family in Scotland to say that our staff and our officers need a proper pay deal for Christmas.
“We’ve compromised and come down to 5.5%, which is simply the same as our public sector colleagues in the NHS.
“We can’t understand why an ambulance driver working 37 hours a week, driving to the same incident as a police officer working over 40 hours a week, aren’t worth the same pay rise.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our officers work tirelessly every day to keep people safe across the country and it is right that their public service is recognised and rewarded. We therefore remain committed to achieving a fair outcome.
“Formal processes are under way to seek an agreement with officers via the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, which is independently led and involves the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland.”
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Speaking at the Scottish Police Authority board meeting, Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell echoed the remarks on the formal processes being under way and the commitment to a “fair outcome”.
She added: “I have consistently highlighted the skill, commitment, goodwill and professionalism our officers, staff, and volunteers demonstrate as they deliver a challenging and essential public service for our communities.
“I would take this opportunity to publicly reiterate and record my thanks for all they do.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Police officers and staff do a challenging job in sometimes very difficult circumstances and I am grateful for all they do to keep communities safe.
“We have made what we believe to be a very fair offer of 4.75% 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.
“Police officers in Scotland have consistently been the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank.”
The Scottish Police Authority has been asked for comment.
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