MOPAC members vote for strike action

The London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime – MOPAC – oversees policing and crime in London, excluding the City of London. It sets priorities and budgets for the Metropolitan Police Service, holds the commissioner to account, ensures delivery of the police and crime plan, commissions victim support services, and works to prevent crime through partnerships.

MOPAC members were initially offered a pay increase of only 1.5% despite a 2% budget allocation. After sustained pressure from PCS, the employer moved to 2% but this figure is still below inflation, represents a real-terms pay cut, and falls short of the branch’s 4.1% pay claim.

In the ballot that closed on 1 December, members voted to take strike action over pay by 94% on a 73% turnout.

The branch committee will meet to decide next steps including potential strike dates.

MOPAC members say they voted yes to strike action because:

“I voted to strike because I don’t feel that MOPAC understands how difficult it is to make ends meet in London. The rental market is incredibly cut-throat. As a single person, half of my salary goes to paying for the roof over my head. I love London, I want to live here, and so do my colleagues. I want to help vulnerable Londoners through my work at MOPAC, but this becomes unsustainable with consistent less-than-inflation pay offers. Unlike our pay, rental properties do not come with just a 2% increase each year.”

Another said: “London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and yet the pay offer doesn’t recognise that reality. For many staff, the maths simply doesn’t add up, and the pressure of trying to make ends meet on a salary that hasn’t kept pace with inflation is causing real stress.”