I thought it would be interesting to look back at the Christmas message I penned this time last year, just to refresh myself on what we said we wanted to achieve in 2018.
I wanted this year to have been a better year for us all, and while I hope that it has been for some, the challenges we faced as a Federation then, are still with us today.
The everyday stresses and strains that you are under as members are still there and what this year has shown is that everybody is feeling that pressure whether you are the Chief Constable or a constable at a station.
My worry is that there appears to be little kindness and empathy shown to our officers – it feels to me as if we are now seen as boxes on a shelf, rather than the dedicated and hard-working professionals with families to think about that we are.
Perhaps at this time of year that feeling becomes even more poignant, when I know many of you are working away from home, away from your families protecting our country.
We are all so incredibly proud of you and proud of the way you all rise to the various challenges put in front of you.
That’s why we are determined to keep on working hard for you, on pensions, conditions and on the universal shift pattern issues in particular in 2019.
We are still battling on all fronts on your behalf, we’re considering a judicial review at the High Court over shift patterns and we need the force to understand the upheaval and distress it will put many of you through, as you have told us.
This year things have not been concluded to our satisfaction, but the one thing I can guarantee for 2019 is that we will be putting in the hard yards for you to hopefully achieve the changes and get the assurances we need.
Keep the faith, continue to do the amazing work you do, we’ll continue to do what we do and hopefully soon you will get the actual rewards you deserve rather than just kind words and rhetoric from the Government and our Department.
A very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you all.
Eamon Keating
National Chairman
