Public and Commercial Services Union

The NEC met to discuss progress on the agreement on pay reached with ministers in December, and were very concerned that a planned meeting on new pay guidance had been postponed by the treasury several times.

The NEC view this as totally unacceptable and agreed that high level protests to ministers will be made. It is not acceptable that our members, already suffering due to the economic situation, face this level of delay.

A special NEC meeting will take place soon to review the situation. PCS have secured agreement with DWP to meet as soon as we have the new pay guidance.

Interest rates fall

The Bank of England announced this week a cut in interest rates to an all-time low of 0.5% and will start increasing the money supply in an attempt to revive the economy.

Whilst the potential reduction in mortgages will be welcome news to many members if they happen, many lowest paid benefit very little from this decision. There are still no reports of landlords reducing rents as a result of the interest rate cuts.

End low pay to stimulate the economy

We believe that to stimulate the economy the government should increase spending by addressing low pay and follow the example of many other governments by increasing the income of the lowest paid and those receiving benefits.

DWP talks to conclude by end of March

The GEC met this week and received a report of the continuing negotiations with DWP management on a range of pay and related issues including managing attendance, the new appraisal system which will replace PDS, improvements in family friendly policies, job security and industrial relations.

We have successfully persuaded management that while we are still waiting to negotiate additional money for DWP members, hard pressed DWP members could be rewarded by improvements in terms and conditions which would certainly help with low morale. We have also made it very clear to management that member’s patience is now wearing thin.

Negotiations will continue over the next two weeks, but the GEC heard from the negotiators that management had agreed to reach a conclusion, including a potential offer, by the time of the GEC meeting which is to take place on 24th March.

Full details of the offer received the GEC decisions and next steps in the DWP campaign will be published after that meeting.