Staffordshire Police Federation has renewed its calls for a fair pay award for its members amid warnings that policing is in the midst of a “Summer of Discontent”.
Branch secretary Glyn Pattinson said a Government announcement on this year's pay offer should be coming in the near future with many officers struggling to meet ends meet as the cost of living crisis starts to impact on household budgets.
He said: “Members are frustrated and like many others across the country are really struggling financially. I have spoken to some who are in real dire straits.
“Our members are facing a number of quite serious challenges this summer, not least the deeping cost of living crisis and soaring inflation rates.
“We are now being made aware of a steep rise in the number of coronavirus cases which is bound to have an impact on policing and on our members in one way or another.
“They have quite enough to contend with at the moment and their health and wellbeing is of paramount importance to the Police Federation.”
Police Federation national chair Steve Hartshorn said the fresh wave of infections was only adding to the feeling that policing was going through a “Summer of Discontent” with members already struggling with the cost of living crisis and the ongoing row over pay and conditions.
Steve pointed to the obvious similarities with the notorious “Winter of Discontent” which saw widespread industrial action by public sector workers between November 1978 and February 1979 demanding pay rises above soaring inflation.
He said: “A week after 40,000 railway employees abstained from work over the Government’s apathy at addressing their concerns about pay and conditions, and other public sector staff associations calling out the Government’s failings over similar issues, the Office for National Statistics has pointed in the direction of yet another wave of Covid-19 infections.
“Our members are presently going through a ‘Summer of Discontent’. The cost of living is going through the roof, police officers’ pay and work conditions are abysmal and we are staring at another surge in Covid infections, which will have a cascading effect on our work commitments.
“It is a worrisome period. Police officers have endured a blanket pay freeze for two years and a 20 per cent real terms pay cut set against inflation since 2010.
“They continue to perform their duties to serve and protect the public, but they are not immune to financial pressures. Asking officers to risk their lives but at the same time, feed their families from food banks is simply not on.”
National deputy chair Tiff Lynch said police officers had not had the full support of the Government for far too long.
“We have all heard the warm words, but they have never been backed by firm action,” she said.
“Inflation is hitting a 40-year high and with pay freezes, and below-inflation rate wage rises, our members are fighting on several fronts, including rising Covid infections.
“It is ironic that our police service is respected across the world and yet our own Government seems to place so little value on it.
“Ministers repeatedly tell us that we are supported and that they have our backs. But words are cheap when officers see and receive nothing from them whilst they hold the line in this current crisis.”
