PCS contingent on the 1.7.17 People's Assembly demo, photo JB

PCS contingent on the 1.7.17 People’s Assembly demo, photo JB   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The civil servants’ union PCS is stepping up its pay campaign by holding a consultative ballot, timed to coincide with the autumn budget.

The average pay of a civil servant will have fallen by 20% since 2010.

The decision to ballot follows the union’s correspondence to the prime minister after the general election demanding an immediate end to the 1% cap.

Damian Green, minister for the cabinet office, in a complacent and dismissive response to the union, claimed that “the civil service offers an exceptional package of benefits which are among the best available”. Despite 120,000 jobs cut, there is a “trade-off” between pay and jobs, he added.

PCS is sending a message to the government – scrap the pay cap and fund inflation-proofing pay increases. PCS is demanding a rise of 5% or £1,200, whichever is greater. The ballot ends on 6 November.

  • Socialism 2017 (11 and 12 November, central London)

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