PCS hit back today over Cabinet Office claims that changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) are fair for staff and will bring the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector.Far from being fair, the union argued that loyal public servants faced cuts of up to a third in redundancy pay as the government sought to tear up their contractual rights in front of their eyes.
Countering claims that the low paid won’t be affected, the union warned that they faced being stripped of their enhanced pension rights when they reach 50 and that the cuts were about making it easier for the next government to sack people on the cheap.
On turnout, the union pointed to the fact the government had denied MPs a vote on the changes and instead relied on an arcane parliamentary procedure to avoid any debate, discussion or vote. The union also pointed out that the government was elected in 2005 by just 22% of the electorate.
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The Cabinet Office has described these changes as bringing the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector. Yet according to the government’s own figures, civil servants earn nearly £5,000 less per year than the public sector average.
"If the government were serious about bringing the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector then it would address the issue of chronic low pay in the civil service.
"In reality these cuts are an attack on low paid civil servants to make it easier for the next government to make job cuts on the cheap. It has nothing to do with fairness or parity, and instead is a crude cost-cutting exercise."The government and the Cabinet Office will be able to see the real strength of feeling among PCS members on 8 and 9 March, when we expect strong support for strike action. Over 35,000 members attended meetings on this issue and 18,000 lobbied the Cabinet Office during the consultation.
"The government and the Cabinet Office can avoid the disruption of industrial action by negotiating an agreement that protects existing members’ rights.”
