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Your questions answered

We are demanding the government stops its attacks on public services and finds a better way to deal with the country’s problems. Here are some frequently asked questions about our campaign

Why is the PCS ‘There is an alternative’ campaign so important?

The government is planning to cut nearly half a million public servants over the next five years.

The proposals represent a vicious attack on workers, services and the welfare state and will have a devastating impact on Britain's most vulnerable communities.

A wide range of services we take for granted will be axed under the proposals. Several non-departmental public bodies are also expected to go, affecting thousands of PCS members and their families.

Low-paid public sector workers are also facing attacks on their pensions, despite the fact that, excluding the very highest earners, the average civil service pension is just £4,200 a year.
 
We are organising a national campaign to challenge the threats and are urging PCS members to get involved in their branches, communities and nationally. 
 

What is the focus of the campaign?

Defending our jobs, pay, pensions and conditions against these attacks remains our main priority.

We believe cuts are unnecessary and there are better, smarter ways to deal with Britain’s current economic problems. We are presenting the coalition government with a clear viable alternative to its unprecedented spending cuts.
 
Our first proposal is ‘tax justice’. Each year, more than £120 billion of tax goes uncollected, evaded or avoided by large companies and wealthy individuals. By just collecting the tax that is rightfully ours we could avoid public service cuts.
 
We are supporting The Robin Hood Tax campaign, a movement of dozens of organisation working to reduce poverty in the UK and overseas. These organisations have come together during the economic crisis to campaign for a new deal between banks and society. A modest tax on financial speculation could raise an extra $400 billion globally.
 
The government should be creating jobs to boost employment and tax revenue, not cutting them.
 
Cuts will damage the economy. By cutting public sector jobs, unemployment will increase – increasing the costs to the government – and lower consumer spending will mean fewer transactions and less tax revenue through VAT. It will also result in the private sector cutting back because there is less demand.
 
We are also calling for a drive to cut waste and government spending on civil service consultants, both of which cost us millions of pounds each year.
 
 

What are our priorities? 

We are encouraging local PCS branches to affiliate to local trades councils, build links with other unions, community groups and welfare organisations; organise members’ meetings across the country to seek views and keep people informed and plan a week of action to coincide with the spending review.

If the government refuses to rethink its proposals we will not rule out a ballot of PCS members for national industrial action.
 
This is going to be the fight of our lives. It is vital we all do everything we can to persuade the government to think again.
 
 

How can I get involved with the campaign?

To make a difference, we need every PCS member to get involved and support the campaign. There are lots of ways you can do this:
 
  • Lobby your local politicians against public service cuts and the attack on our jobs and conditions. Read our ‘how to’ guide' and let us know their response
  • Contact your local rep about events in your region – including local members’ meetings – and find out how to get involved
  • Keep up to date with information on the proposed cuts on our campaign web pages
  • Recruit non-PCS colleagues into the union.