POLICE support staff from Bury were among hundreds attending a meeting last night, Auguist 12, to protest over planned pay cuts.

Many of Greater Manchester Police's 3,100 civilian staff are said to be "devastated" by the fact they could face reductions of between £3,000 and £5,000 a year.

Last night's meeting held in Manchester was organised by Unison which represents 2,250 of the support staff employed throughout the force's 11 divisions.

The pay cut threat comes after a police job evaluation scheme which will see 30 per cent of staff losing out while 12 per cent will get a salary increase.

Mr Tim Carter, regional officer for Unison, said: "Letters have gone out to staff saying the new pay scales will take effect from September. "I've written to the Chief Constable, asking him to pull back. So piecemeal is the appeals mechanism that nothing has been arranged as yet."

He added: "Staff have the right to appeal but I'm not confident that the mechanisms will be in place to deal with the magnitude of pay losses people will suffer."

The Bury division has around 60 support staff, some of whom will gain and others who will lose as a consequence of the job evaluation results.

Asked what the mood was of those staff threatened with pay cuts, Mr Carter said: "To say staff are devastated would not be too strong a word to use."

He revealed that following budget cuts imposed by GMP earlier this year, some support workers would be getting their second pay cut in just six months.

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