Around 300 Metropolitan Police civilian workers are voting on
strike action over pay and changes to working conditions, Unite,
the UK's leading union, said today.
Workers are angry that last year's pay deal remains partly
unimplemented and that the proposed 3.5 per cent pay rise for
2026/27 is insufficient.
The 2026 offer remains significantly lower for police staff than
police officer colleagues, due to their pay enhancements for
working in London increasing.
Many staff say years of falling real-terms pay have intensified
cost-of-living pressures, leaving some reliant on payday loans
just to get by.
The dispute also concerns plans to move 999 call handlers from
four-day to five-day shift patterns and increase weekend working
from two weekends in four to seven in ten.
Many police station front desks have also closed, while those
still open have reduced hours and staffing to the detriment of
workers and the service to the public.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: The Met
police must address our members' concerns about pay and working
conditions. Unite fully supports their demands for fair wages,
appropriate staffing levels and a decent work life
balance.
The ballot closes on 26 November. Strike action
would severely disrupt Met operations across London, including
999 call handling, fleet services and police station front desks.
Unite regional officer Keith Henderson said: The Met
will bear full responsibility for disruption to police services
in the capital. It must meet with its workers, listen to their
concerns and offer an acceptable solution. Until then, this
dispute will continue to escalate.
