Union boss voices cuts fear (From Warrington Guardian)

Union boss voices cuts fear

8:00am Monday 25th February 2013 in News

A UNION official has met with Police and Crime Commisioner John Dwyer to voice concerns over privatisation and redundancies.

Unions were against the decision to remove the Police Authority and replace it with the PCC role, but David Trussell, Unison branch secretary for Warrington, sad the meeting last week had been positive.

He said: “At the moment we are trying to establish a positive working relationship.

“It’s easier to speak over the table, than the brazier.

“The big issue at the moment is funding.

“We feel this has been caused by the big banks and we are paying for it.

“We will have to agree to disagree on some issues but the idea is to get through this as little mess for our staff as possible, but the reality is some people will be made redundant.”

Issues discussed included job losses, privatisation and Government proposals.

Mr Dwyer currently acts as employer for the police but by April 2014 that responsibilty could swap to the Chief Constable.

Mr Trussel said the PCC role ‘could go either way’ in helping police staff.

“I’m a glass half full kind of person, but we will do whatever is in the best interests for our members,” he said.

“Our top priority is to avoid redundancies while fighting these cuts.”