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Industrial action by the biggest civil service union is to continue while it considers an improved offer from the UK government aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.
Members of the Public & Commercial Services union have been taking strike action for months, including three nationwide walkouts.
The union said the government had agreed to make ‘significant concessions’ relating to pay, redundancy terms and job security.
A PCS statement said: ‘This is the first time in our union’s history that members taking national action in the UK civil service and related areas have forced a government to make concessions on pay at national level resulting in considerable extra money for members.
‘Our strategy has involved the most industrial action in our union’s history, with 118 days of brilliantly supported targeted strike action in the first phase and 186 days in the second phase, alongside three days of national action.’
The government’s proposals include a nonconsolidated lump sum of £1,500 in recognition of cost-of-living pressures in 2022/23 which will be made by individual employers over the next few weeks following meetings with the union.
The union said the government will not take any action or make any changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme until 2025 and has given a commitment to further talks on strengthening redundancy avoidance.
The statement added: ‘This is a significant achievement for the union which, while short of our full claim, puts money in members’ pockets and brings parity of treatment with other public sector workers.
‘Further discussions will follow with the Cabinet Office at the end of June in order to take stock of progress and ensure that all bargaining areas have committed to paying the £1,500 without conditions.
‘We have said that we do not want any area left behind and that payment must be made to all members, and this will inform the next steps in our campaign.
‘Planned targeted action this month will go ahead as planned. Any reballots for action are on hold pending the outcome of the delegated talks.’
Industrial action going ahead this month includes strikes by PCS members in the Northern Ireland Office starting on Tuesday for three days, action by members at Audit Wales and the National Museum of Wales starting on Wednesday and by driving examiners in 286 test centres across England and Wales on June 15.
PCS members at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in South Wales are going on a 15-day strike from June 11.
source: PA
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