HUNDREDS of cops are planning to set up a picket line in protest amid deadlock over ongoing pay talks.
Rank and file officers will gather on Thursday to show their anger at a failure to reach a compromise over their demands for a 5.5 per cent hike.
The demo is the culmination of months of dialogue that has come to nothing with the Scottish Police Authority, top brass and Scottish Government refusing to budge on a 4.75 per cent offer.
The brassed-off cops are expected to come out in force at a meeting of the SPA attended by Chief Constable Jo Farrell at Merchants’ House in Glasgow.
The officers will be supported by members of the union Unison who represent workers employed in civilian roles by the force.
Details of the showdown emerged the day after a new survey revealed cops feel under-valued by bosses and underpaid for their demanding frontline roles.
David Kennedy, secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, says rank and file are furious at being among the lowest paid public sector workers in Scotland.
A starting salary for a police officer is £30,000 and they face the increasing threat of physical attacks with 98 percent of SPF members currently working to rule.
Mr Kennedy said: “There is no revised offer than the 4.75 per cent than they originally came with and it’s an absolute disgrace.
“If you look at the recent survey, 70 per cent wouldn’t recommend anyone joining the service
“They might be happy within their wee teams but that shows the connection with their line managers. Anything outside that they are totally dissatisfied with.
“We know that good will is what keeps the police service alive and we are absolutely tired of our members getting used and abused by the Scottish Government, the SPA and Police Scotland as far as their good will is concerned.”
Mr Kennedy pointed to a number of factors that have added to the sense that cops are not getting the deal they deserve – and many are leaving for better options.
He added: “People are staying for so long and then leaving.
“They continually say cops in Scotland are paid better than in England but they fail to mention that they are actually taxed more in Scotland.
“We look at police officers leaving to become teachers, train drivers because they don’t want to stay in the job.
“When you look at the changes to pensions and now the changes to pay and conditions we are going back to the dark ages we saw in the 70s.
“I think we are nearly at that point where people say they simply can’t afford to be a police officer.”
Anger has further been inflamed by the feeling matters have been allowed to reach this point with Christmas on the near horizon.
Mr Kennedy added: “It’s no surprise they wait until the months before Christmas to try and force the hand of police officers.
“Because police officers will have been waiting for that money which would be backdated to assist them at Christmas.
“It’s not a good place to be for police officers this Christmas.”