The Chair of Cleveland Police Authority says the latest attack by the union Unison on the support services partnership agreement with Steria shows ‘astonishing double standards in attacking us for protecting jobs and at the same time praising another force which has recently issued redundancy warnings to over a thousand of is staff.’
Councillor Dave McLuckie was responding to comments in the unions’ national police newsletter, claiming that the authority had agreed to ‘privatise its 999 service’ and had failed to properly consult Unison.
Said Councillor McLuckie “I really do find it baffling that Unison has spent so much time and effort attacking the police authority which has led the way in seeking ways of protecting its staff, saving money and improving services to the public.
“Once again it seeks to misrepresent what our agreement with Steria is all about...there is no truth whatsoever in the claim that the 999 service has been ‘privatised’—calls will continue to be handled from the same control room at the force headquarters by the same staff—and responses to calls remaining under the control of police officers.
“Throughout the entire process we have sought to keep staff fully informed and to consult with their representatives including Unison. It is just a pity that Unison’s response has been a constant campaign of misrepresentation and scaremongering.
“The facts are that we are probably the only police authority in the country—and indeed one of the few organisations of any kind—able to guarantee that the staff involved in the partnership have their terms and conditions guaranteed for ten years...plus a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for ten years.
“What is particularly frustrating is that, whilst the Unison newsletter continues to vilify our efforts, it praises an agreement with Durham Police Authority for staff learning and development. I am sure that it is a good agreement, but one wonders why the union which is so keen to attack us when we are protecting their members’ jobs has apparently nothing to say about the fact that all 1,160 staff members employed by Durham have been issued with notices advising them that their posts are being considered for potential redundancy.”
Major points of the partnership with Steria include:
● £50m of savings over the ten years of the contract to help protect frontline policing.
● A guarantee for the full ten years of the contract, protecting current terms, conditions and pension rights plus a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for all transferring staff—in total around 470.
● 999 calls will continue to be handled from the Force control room, which will remain at Force headquarters with responses to calls remaining under the control of the Force..
● Steria will set up a shared service centre in the area with the prospect of further job creation.