Page 18 - WMPF Federation June-July 2021_Neat

Conference Day 1

Pay, conditions and

pensions: ‘We need to get

our message out more’

discrimination found in the introduction of
the 2015 pension scheme.
Moving on from pensions, both Alex and
John were critical of the fact that the
Federation had lost negotiating rights in the
pay review process, with the Government
also being free not to abide by the
recommendations of the Police
Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) to which
the Federation made a submission each year.
John said: “We put a lot of evidence
forward each year – the Government can
choose to ignore this. We negotiate the best
we can, but it’s a very complex arena. There
is evidence of officers going to food banks,
having pay day loans. It’s not right for the
job they do – they should be given the right
amount of pay.”
He argued that the Federation put
forward its case, backed by evidence and
while they were listened to, their views were
often not taken notice of or were overlooked.
Facilitator Alastair Campbell (above) and national secretary of Officer morale, John said, was decreasing
Police Federation of England and Wales Alex Duncan (right). due to pay, pensions and the fact they were
not respected by all communities.
he Federation has to be the pension Alex added that the Federation’s role
unequivocal voice of policing, getting forecast, no was being wrongly diminished by the refusal
Tits message out more and rallying idea of when they could retire and no details of Government to allow any appeal or
together, the Federation’s national secretary of what they would be entitled to. arbitration when the annual pay claim is
told a conference session looking at pay, But he said the Federation was working assessed by PRRB.
conditions and pensions. with the Government and further guidance He added: “The Home Secretary elects
The session was facilitated by Tony Blair’s was imminent, including a pension the areas they can look at. The Home
former spokesperson, Alastair Campbell, who calculator tool that was being tested. Secretary can either accept our evidence or
recently appeared as a host on the breakfast Asked why the issues had not been not – there’s no right of appeal or
TV programme Good Morning Britain, and resolved by Government, Alex conceded: “I arbitration.”
featured inputs from Police Federation of think they want to resolve it but it is The issue of further industrial rights was
England and Wales (PFEW) national incredibly complex.” raised by Mr Campbell and Alex admitted:
secretary Alex Duncan and deputy secretary And he also stressed that he understood “We have to be careful what we wish for. You
John Partington. why members were frustrated, particularly don’t hear about all-out strikes where it
“As we come out of the pandemic and we since some officers were leaving policing on ends well.”
return to normality, I think it’s beholding on the wrong pension, something that could He also pointed out that with industrial
PFEW to be the unequivocal voice of policing. not be resolved until the Government issued rights employers would get the right to
We need to get our message out more – we its guidance on the remedy to the make people redundant.
will all have different opinions, but it’s
important we rally together,” Alex said. The Home Secretary elects the areas they can
John added: “We have to realise how “
powerful we can be when we come together look at. The Home Secretary can either accept
with a united front.” our evidence or not – there’s no right of appeal
Time was spent discussing the
uncertainty around pensions with Alex or arbitration.
explained there were officers who had no “

18 federation June/July 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids