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Police staff to vote over strike action                22/3/14

Police staff are to vote over going on strike after trust between Police Scotland and the trade unions broke down.

Unison is urging police staff to back industrial action in a ballot later this month.

A Unison union statement said: “Trust between Police Scotland and the all staff trade unions have broken down.”

Unison hit out at the closures of four contact command and control centres which take 999 calls from the public.

The union is also concerned over redundancy terms being cut next month.  

In addition, it says over 1,700 police staff across the country are having their annual leave restricted due to the Commonwealth Games this summer.

George McIrvine, secretary of Unison police staff Scotland branch said: “Our members across Scotland are telling us loud and clear that enough is enough.

“Staff are stressed, over worked and under pressure. We will ballot them to gauge their strength of feeling on potential strike action.

“The employer have given us no choice. They are not providing the unions with answers to reasonable questions which we have consistently raised for many months now.”

Gerry Crawley, Unison regional officer said: ‘Police staff are a hard working, loyal, and experienced. They take pride in keeping communities safe. But this whole episode has made them worried, frightened and angry.

“The uncertainty of what’s next is demoralising. The Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland need to realise that Unison members are not prepared to take the brunt of these brutal cuts any longer.

‘Scottish Police Authority and the Police Scotland are simply not listening to us. Over 300 jobs are at risk in contact command and control centres. Over 1700 staff are having their lead restricted this has left unions no choice but to consult our members on potential strike action.”

Police Scotland said it was committed to further dialogue with the union.