OFFICERS will get a \u2018kick in the teeth\u2019 if latest pay increase recommendations are not agreed says South Yorkshire Federation Chair Zuleika Payne.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s backing calls from the Police Federation of England and Wales and The Superintendent\u2019s Association to reward the hard work and dedication of UK officers with a 3.4% pay rise this year.<\/p>\n
Extra workloads, pay freezes and having to work in increasingly pressurised and stressful situations have all hit officers in recent years, meaning a pay rise is more than deserved according to Zuleika.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn real terms we\u2019ve actually suffered a pay drop of around 14.6% over the past 8 years, that\u2019s the first aggravation for officers who, much of the time, do an almost impossible job,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers feel they are not getting a fair day\u2019s pay for a fair day\u2019s work and work levels have increased with fewer officers on the force to do the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika believes the pay rise submission is particularly pertinent given the high level of alert the UK has been on in the last 18 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you consider what this country has experienced and what police officers have endured trying to protect the public and maintain the health and wellbeing of society, then it\u2019s clear police officers are value for money, they strive to deliver in very challenging times.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fail to see that a 3.4% increase is an unreasonable request, but we have to wait and see\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers\u2019 pay-packets will feel the benefit of any salary increase in September should the Home Office agree with the PFEW\u2019s submission.<\/p>\n