THE British Transport Police Federation said the force is 'holding a gun' to
its head after negotiations over a new pay package failed. Talks on the
adoption of the revised pay scales, approved by the Police Negotiating Board
in May, are now set to go to an independent arbitrator after the Federation
and police committee (force management) failed to agree to a way forward.
The Federation wants management to agree to uphold old conditions of
service, including a relocation allowance, before negotiations on
implementing the new pay deal begin. But force management said it wanted to
discuss this after any pay deal, which would bring the BTP in line with Home
Office forces, is reached.
Roger Randall, secretary of the BTP Federation, condemned the way force
management is approaching the talks. He said: 'They are putting undue
pressure on us to negotiate away these conditions. I am willing to
negotiate, but not while they are holding a gun to my head, not while they
are withholding payments.'
Police review has received letters of complaint from BTP officers, who
wanted to remain anonymous, about the way in which the force is approaching
the issue.
Steve Thomas, director of human resources at BTP, said: 'The committee
supported the strategy of the service which emphasises to implement the full
police reform package in a way that brings the force even closer to Home
Office terms and conditions.'
