PCS: Official government pay report is ‘flawed and meaningless’
Today's (5) Office for National Statistics report about pay in the public and private sectors is so flawed it is rendered meaningless, the Public and Commercial Services union says.
The conclusion that "average" pay in the public sector is 7.8% higher is immediately debunked by the report's authors who go on to say, "However, this is by no means a definitive estimate of the public/private sector pay gap".
Elsewhere, the report is riddled with caveats and omissions, including the effects of pensions, company car allowances, health insurance and bonuses.
The report refers to a study by Incomes Data Services (IDS), the purpose of which was to show that such comparisons are "far from straightforward".
Where comparisons are possible, the IDS report points out, such as in areas of the civil service, the picture is more mixed.
In a study in 2009 IDS found some comparisons between civil service admin and office jobs and those in large private sector firms such as banks. The research suggested that starting rates for lower-paid admin civil service staff were "in line with or slightly higher than" those in the private sector. But at all points above these minimum rates, and in higher grades, civil service pay lagged behind the private sector.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Reliable pay comparisons are notoriously difficult, as ONS concedes, and this report is so flawed it is meaningless.
"Despite this the authors unhelpfully claim to be able produce a result which no doubt will be leapt on by those whose mission it is to drive down public sector pay and conditions."
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 around 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and 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 – on Twitter @janicegodrich
– Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union
-01.png){kind=spacer}