Metropolitan Police civilian staff have suspended planned strikes to ballot on a new pay offer, potentially ending months of industrial dispute that has threatened London's emergency services.
Unison members, including 999 call handlers, detention officers, and crime scene examiners, had been locked in a bitter pay row with the Met since launching a 24-hour walkout in April. The union branded the force's initial offer a "below-inflation pay rise" that failed to address soaring living costs hitting frontline workers.
The suspension follows intense negotiations between union representatives and Met bosses, with details of the revised offer remaining confidential ahead of the member ballot. The improved terms represent a significant shift from earlier proposals, union sources suggest.
Hundreds of civilian staff joined April's strike action, highlighting the wider pressure on public sector workers whose real wages have been squeezed by persistent inflation. The dispute mirrors industrial action across healthcare, transport, and education, as unions demand pay rises matching cost-of-living increases.
Any resolution would provide crucial stability for the Met, which depends heavily on civilian staff to maintain essential operations. Previous strike action disrupted emergency response times and evidence processing, with further walkouts threatening to compound operational challenges facing Britain's largest police force.
The ballot outcome will determine whether the months-long dispute draws to a close or if staff prepare for renewed industrial action. Union members are expected to vote in the coming weeks.
Source: BBC