Police staff across Hertfordshire will be walking out for a 24-hour strike over pay just days before Christmas.
Members of public sector workers union Unison - including police community support officers, custody staff, emergency call takers, radio despatchers, scenes of crime officers and other support staff will go on strike on Monday, December 22, in protest at stalled national talks over pay.
The union wanted a three per cent hike, employers offered one per cent, and there has been stalemate since April.
According to the union, it’s the first time police staff have taken industrial action over pay since 1989.
Steph Raddings, who chairs the Herts Police union branch, said: “Police staff are struggling to make ends meet at a time when they are being pressured to perform to high standards with increasing workloads and less resources caused by the continual government cuts in police budgets.
“Unison only takes strike action once every other avenue of influence and negotiation has been exhausted. It is not a decision taken lightly.”
The 24-hour strike will be followed by a four-week ban on voluntary overtime.
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