However, Calum Steele, general secretary of the SPF, said the existing offer amounts to an average salary increase of just 1.4 percent. The organization said its actions were the “most outspoken” taken by officials in a century.
The SNP last year made a manifesto promise to protect police budgets in real terms for the next five years, but the promise was abandoned with the administration prioritizing areas such as new welfare benefits and NHS spending.
“It is important that the demonstration of the frustration that our members feel continues until this payment dispute is resolved,” Mr Steele said on Friday morning.
“One thing that is being removed is the hundreds of free policing hours that are provided daily, thousands that are provided weekly and tens of thousands that are provided monthly and annually.”
I argued that the action would not jeopardize public safety as the police could still be formally ordered by their bosses to work when necessary.
Officers express their ‘frustration and anger’
Scottish police officers have been offered an overall salary increase of £ 565 per annum. Other workers in the public sector, such as train drivers and NHS staff, were offered five per cent.
“In terms of options available for dispute escalation, should it be necessary, there is much more available,” Mr Steele said.
“The fact that we are maintaining our action from five o’clock today shows the strength of feeling among our members and the importance they attach to demonstrating their frustration and their anger over the starting position.”
The number of serving policemen and women in Scotland stood at 16,805 at the end of March, the lowest number since 2008. The force warned that the numbers of officers could drop further due to a lack of funding from the SNP government.
The action also follows informal industrial action by train drivers, which eventually forced a five per cent salary increase from ScotRail, which was nationalized by Nicola Sturgeon’s government in April.
Police officers’ salaries in Scotland are being negotiated with the SFP by a three-part body made up of the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation.
In a payment offer in March, the body said there was “no additional funding to invest in payment” and “no room with the Scottish Government’s budget” for more cash.
Ms Sturgeon called on those involved to “work together constructively” so that a “fair and affordable salary increase can be agreed”.
She added: “Our police officers deserve it and we will continue to appreciate policing and give it the priority it deserves.”
A Scottish police spokesman emphasized that the matter was still being investigated by the police.
He said: “We recognize the significant goodwill that officers bring into their roles on a daily basis as they keep people across the country safe, and this is also appreciated by the communities they serve.”