It is still important that police officers get the chance to vote on industrial rights, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Despite the recent Government pay deal, Federation Chair Steve Kent said that industrial rights should \u201cabsolutely\u201d be discussed, and that he had been pushing the issue for some time.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI first brought industrial rights to the table a long time ago in West Yorkshire, and I think we can wave our flags that we have been the ones who have been consistently talking about this now for many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a wider implication than just a one-off decent pay rise. It\u2019s about the continued lack of support that officers get across the board. We\u2019re looking at police regulations being changed and people being able to be fired for far less. This is about getting improved rights to protect officers in all realms, going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really passionate that we need to have this vote once and for all, and we need to deal with it, because officers keep asking me about it. We need to put it out there, we need officers to have an informed say, with both pros and cons, and then respect that decision. It may mean that we pursue industrial rights to whatever end that might be. If we don\u2019t, then we put it to bed and concentrate on other ways of trying to improve our officers\u2019 lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve said he was still waiting for timelines from the national Federation but that a ballot was likely to be early next year. He added: \u201cI\u2019m already going around speaking to officers and getting people to engage in the process, regardless of what their views are. I think it\u2019s something that\u2019s really important.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cI have absolutely no doubt that the leak that this was being looked at has had a positive effect on the Government giving us a 7% pay rise. We know the Government was thinking of slashing the PRRB\u2019s recommendations, so I think it would have been a little thorn in their side knowing that police officers are talking about this. If nothing else, it shows the strength of feeling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe totally respect the PRRB and what they try to achieve, but they are still hamstrung and at the behest of the Government deciding yay or nay. Until it\u2019s a fair and binding process, we\u2019ve got to try and improve things for police officers.\u201d<\/p>\n