Met Police workers to strike on Bonfire Night

Almost 6,500 Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members employed by the Met* will walk out on Bonfire Night on 5 November after they were refused a London allowance by management.

 

Angry over the double-standard of paying officers a fully consolidated £1,250 London allowance that isn't available to police staff, they voted last week for strike action by an overwhelming margin of 93%.

 

The Met Police is making plans to redeploy some of its 34,000 police officers to cover striking police staff’s work. The cost of overtime and cancelled days off is, however, likely to exceed the £1,250 that our members are due.

 

So far ignored by Met management, PCS's proposals would deliver cost savings for both for our members and London taxpayers.

 

In January 2025, PCS members took industrial action by refusing to comply with the Met’s imposed hybrid working policy while continuing to work. The Met responded by threatening to dock pay for every day members did not attend the office.

 

This uncompromising stance by the Met is part of the reason why PCS members voted for strike action in the £1,250 dispute.

 

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Rent, mortgage repayments, food prices and energy bills have been rising for everyone in London – so why does the Met treat its civilian staff differently to officers?

 

"Removing police officers from frontline duties is both negligent and careless. The Met has deliberately ignored our practical solutions, aware that its continued commitment to a two-tier workforce would lead to strikes. 

 

"To prevent any disruption to the vital services our members provide to the people of London every day, this payment must be paid immediately to civilian staff."

 

 

*PCS members in the Met work as 999 call handlers, detention officers, police community support officers, public access officers, as well as in vetting, intelligence, forensics, counter terrorism, admin, finance, and HR.