Police could strike for first time in over a century with push for ballot next month
Police officers across the country could strike for the first time in more than a century – with a push for a ballot as soon as next month.
Members of the Police Federation of England and Wales voted for the ballot during a National Council meeting on June 20, in a vote which was instigated by the West Midlands branch of the federation.
The momentous vote could have seismic repercussions for the police, for whom it has been illegal to go on strike since 1919.
Chair of the West Midlands Police Federation, Richard Cooke, said he wanted police pay to be on the agenda for the General Election next year, and hopes the ballot can be held by the end of September.
According to Sergeant Cooke, the concerns behind this movement centre on pay deprivation and discontent with the system which decides police wages.
He added that a national ballot was not only "overdue", but "must happen immediately" to address the "anger and frustration" of officers over working conditions.
Sergeant Cooke told the Express & Star: "There is a huge need for this ballot. We are completely disenfranchised. We don't want to go on strike, but we keep getting ignored.
"We are losing officers, experienced officers. It's happening up and down the country.
"There's been a 200 per cent increase in voluntary redundancies over the last 10 years. There's also been a 17 per cent reduction in pay since 2000, which is worse compared to other public sector professions.
"Australian police get more rewarding packages. It's why we're losing experienced officers."
The ballot would ask current members of the Police Federation whether or not they would want to seek strike action, and is not a vote on imminent industrial action.
