PFNI calls on Secretary of State to intervene to deliver pay award
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) is calling on Secretary of State James Brokenshire MP to take action to deliver a pay award to thousands of Officers.
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) is calling on Secretary of State James Brokenshire MP to take action to deliver a pay award to thousands of Officers.
Officers will not get a pay increase in their September payslips simply because there are no Northern Ireland Ministers in place to sign off on any deal.
The Government has ended its Public Sector pay cap which means that officers in England and Wales will get a 1% pay rise and 1% bonus backdated to the start of the month.
In the past, pay parity has been maintained with England and Wales, but the PFNI is warning that that expectation can no longer be taken for granted.
The staff association says it remains unsighted on the pay recommendation for Northern Ireland.
PFNI Chairman, Mark Lindsay, said: “Much to our disgust and disappointment there has been no such award relating to Police Officer pay for Northern Ireland.
“The sole reason for this is the absence of a devolved administration, which requires consideration for any recommendations by both a Justice Minister and a Finance Minister. In addition, there is currently no legislative process in place in Northern Ireland to sign off any element of an award.
“The Department of Justice is in possession of the Pay Review Body recommendations relating to Police pay in Northern Ireland, but a decision has been made at Permanent Secretary level not to share these recommendations prior to a Minister having sight of same.
“In the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive, we have written to the Secretary of State urging him to enact legislation which enables critical decisions pertinent to the effective running of Northern Ireland to be taken in the absence of local Ministers. We would also seek assurances that any increase for officers in Northern Ireland be backdated to the 1st September 2017.
“We will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that the recommendations of the Pay Review Body for Northern Ireland are implemented without any undue delays.”