PCS: Minister reneges on promise to protect lowest paid civil servants facing redundancy

PCS: Minister reneges on promise to protect lowest paid civil servants facing redundancy

PCS: Minister reneges on promise to protect lowest paid civil servants facing redundancy

The government has refused negotiations over a plan put forward by the Public and Commercial Services union to better protect the lowest paid civil servants who lose their jobs as a result of spending cuts.

The decision by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude prevents the possibility of an agreement being reached with the civil service unions, despite Mr Maude previously telling the House of Commons that his government would “strain every sinew” towards achieving a negotiated scheme supported by all six trade unions.

The government spokesman in the House of Lords, Lord Wallace of Saltaire subsequently claimed it was the government’s “strong intention” to negotiate an agreement to end the dispute over planned cuts to the civil service compensation scheme, which governs the terms of redundancy payments.

The union has always been committed to reaching a negotiated settlement. It worked tirelessly behind the scenes even after the government incorrectly announced in October it had reached an agreement with the other unions involved.

The government is rushing legislation through parliament to cap payments in the short term at 12 months for compulsory redundancy and 15 months for voluntary exits. It has also put forward proposals for a future scheme to limit benefits to 12 months for compulsory and 21 months for voluntary redundancies.

The union’s plan would have seen this replaced with a cash cap which would protect the accrued rights of all lower-paid civil servants up to the age of 50 and a large proportion of those over that age. The union believes the government’s changes unfairly discriminate against lower paid staff and disproportionately favour higher paid staff over 50.

The two largest civil service unions PCS and the Prison Officers’
Association continued to push for fresh talks and the Council of Civil Service Unions formally wrote to Mr Maude on 9 November requesting further discussions to jointly explore the costs of alternative ways of structuring benefits under the compensation scheme. The Cabinet Office refused.

PCS is still pursuing a legal challenge to the proposed changes and has made a detailed submission to the joint committee on human rights, which includes members of both houses of parliament. The union will now consult members on the latest offer.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We have done everything possible to seek a negotiated agreement but we must now question the government’s willingness to do the same, despite the promises made in parliament.

“At any time, this would be a disgraceful way to treat staff, whose rights the High Court has twice ruled should be protected. But the government is forcing through cuts when it is also planning to make tens of thousands of civil servants redundant.

“We remain committed to fighting these proposals and will pursue further legal action if necessary.”

ENDS

Notes

– For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216

– The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, as well as staff in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK’s sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich

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