PS. Here is a link to the pay comparison article by the BBC
BBC News - How well are police officers paid?
It's a bit old, but shows how Armed Forces pay is lower.
Now, I've no axe to grind over this with Emergency Service colleagues as our terms and conditions are vastly different. Furthermore, I don't begrudge your ability to strike; it is a legal right for you guys. However, there are many things that are legal that I don't agree with either!
In fact, I'm such a staunch believer that unions do more harm than good and are an outdated form of employee representation in the workplace, that I would never join a union if I were able. I believe they are mostly champagne socialists living off the subs of hard-pressed workers for their own gains and lining their pockets.
I much prefer the Police Federation's methods of protest marching and significant lobbying of the senior management than physical strike action. When people strike, the biggest losers are the strikers as they stand to damage their reputation within the organisation and also do not get paid (which means the families suffer).
The B Word
PPS. Here is the Armed Forces Benefits Calc as well
Armed Forces Benefits & Pension Calculator