The Socialist 17 January 2004

Stop Top-Up Fees

Top-Up Fees - Your Questions Answered

Top-Up Fees - The Beginning Of The End For Blair?

"Don't let money mean more than minds."

Stop top-up fees Action Day

Asylum Seekers Fast For Their Rights

High Fat, High Sugar And High Profit

The Jungle, By Upton Sinclair

Sharon Pushes For Annexation

Haiti: Mass Protests Against Autocratic Rule

Respect Unity Coalition - what we think

Fight Low Pay

CWU Broad Left Affiliates To ISR

Fight For New Workers Party

Previous issues, etc

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Vote 'yes' in the PCS strike ballot

Fight Low Pay

OVER 100,000 members of the PCS civil service union in five government departments are balloting for industrial action over pay.

Members in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Home Office, the Prison Service and the Treasury Solicitors Office are fighting for a decent pay settlement.

In the DWP, workers have had a 2.6% pay increase imposed on them and management are trying to force through a divisive performance-related pay scheme.

PCS national executive committee (NEC) member John McInally told the socialist:

"I was at a pay campaign meeting today and it's clear the members are determined to fight for a decent pay rise. They're fed up with doing all this hard work and not being appreciated. They feel we deserve a lot better.

"The members know that if we let them get away with this pay deal this year, all we'll get is another crap offer next year."

NEC member Rob Williams added:

"The pay campaign meetings in my area, Leeds, have been going very well. Management have not allowed us to meet on the premises, so members have been meeting in car parks and outside on the pavement.

"Most of the meetings took place last week, when it was pouring with rain but members turned out in droves. There's a very strong mood against the imposed pay deal and in favour of action.

"Members are angry about how derisory the imposed deal is. This month's pay slip shows how low it is. For an executive officer taking home about £1,000 a month, it only means an extra £27-£28 a month. Obviously people on lower grades have got a lot less.

"No one in any of the meetings I've heard about has come along to argue against action. But there's no room for complacency, everyone must vote 'yes' to strike action and 'yes' to action short of a strike. This will give us a mandate to put further pressure on management to improve the offer. But we've already told them we're planning to strike on 29-30 January."

The ballot finishes on 19 January.

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Stop Top-Up Fees