Fight Low Pay

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.