Police staff in the Unison, Unite and GMB unions are being balloted for strike action to win a 3% pay increase.
This follows a consultative ballot in the summer when a large majority backed action.
Since 2010, police staff suffered a two year pay freeze, followed by a 1% raise last year. This means a real term cut of 13% according to Unison. This year we have had the same paltry and insulting ‘offer’.
To make matters worse, officer and staff job losses will reach 34,000 by 2015.
A Unison poll of police and justice service group members showed that 39% are struggling to make ends meet with 80% cutting back on general living costs.