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Civil Service Compensation Scheme Campaign: Why CMEC members should support the strike

4 March 2010

Members will by now have seen the messages issued by CSA Management Team, and a personal one from Stephen Geraghty on 1 March. The messages are in response to PCS' decision to take Strike Action on 8 and 9 March following the government's attacks on CSCS.

The content of these messages, while not surprising, is disappointing. It can only be seen as an emotional threat to pitch the contribution at the possible impact these 2 days of action will have on CSA’s Collection Campaign, and in getting money to children.

Of course, it is regrettable if the action slightly delays getting money to children, however it is clear that any action will have an impact on any organisation’s performance. This is not the doing of PCS or our members. It is not the responsibility of our members to concern themselves with arbitrary performance targets imposed upon us by Senior Management and Ministers.

If CMEC are serious about meeting its commitment to getting more money for more children, this will be best achieved by treating its staff – our members – with respect and not continually attacking their terms and conditions. In fact, senior staff in CMEC are against the attacks on CSCS as they see it for what it is.

Let’s be clear, the proposals on the CSCS are just such an attack. If brought in, it will drastically cut the payments our members could expect in a redundancy situation.

While there are no current plans to declare redundancies in CMEC, the Government proposals have been “sold” as an efficiency which will deliver savings.

It will not escape members’ attention that these savings can only be delivered if the reductions in the compensation payments are actually driven through – which will, of course, mean redundancies.

At a time when our Civil Service status is still to be reviewed and as we move towards the new scheme, the plan medium term is to reduce staffing levels delivering Child Maintenance.

It is clear that current attrition will not deliver these reductions and the new scheme will be implemented by the time other measures would need to be considered. CMEC members must strike to protect their futures.

It is never an easy decision for any member to go on strike, and make the sacrifice involved. However, we in CMEC face huge challenges and uncertainty in the next 5 years or so. It is vital we fight to protect our current terms and conditions if we are to keep safeguards in place.

PCS will continue to campaign to secure your long-term futures within the Civil Service. Together we will win that battle

At the same time, we also need to protect our conditions of service, and improve them where possible, if keeping that status is to mean what it does today.

Support the strike on 8 & 9 March 2010 and subsequent overtime ban.
 

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