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BTPF History

Origins of the Federation

The origins of the Federation can be traced back to 1919 when the wartime Railway Executive Committee appointed a sub-committee to consider rates of pay and service conditions of the 18 separate railway police forces.

At that time, each had different scales and there was no formal machinery for negotiation. Indeed any form of association for that purpose was forbidden, although on most lines staff representatives were recognised on an informal basis.

In general, the men were expected to rely on their chief of police to look after their interests and make such representations to the general manager and directors as he thought fit.

The sub-committee consisted of four police superintendents and representatives of the railway companies. However, doubt as whether to apply police or railway-based scales of pay, coupled with immediate post-war uncertainties, caused it to postpone its decision until January 1920. As an interim measure it recommended that rate of pay should be based on those of the best railway company.

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