Public and Commercial Services Union

9 July 2009

Legal update - important action for PCS members at E1 and E2

Our union is continuing to progress a major legal challenge to the imposed pay cuts for our members. All members impacted have already been asked to complete a complaint letter; we now need to take the next step and all members are asked to complete a individual grievance and lodge this with the department.

Attached below at Annex 1 is a grievance template letter. All PCS members in pay band’s E1 and E2 are urged to complete this letter. Based on our legal advice, we are also lodging 10 employment tribunal cases, to protect the legal position of every PCS member in both pay bands.

At Annex 2 below is the MoD pay scales and spine points from 2006-2009. All staff that are in receipt of the pay protection allowance are asked to use this to complete their grievance letter. Please use this information to work out your spine point and also the amount of money you have lost in consolidated pay.

For example if you were previously on spine point 31 (the spine point max before 1 May 2009) you will now be on spine point 9. Your consolidated and pensionable pay loss would have decreased from £23,534 to £20,074 meaning that you will have suffered a loss of £3,460 per annum.

We will of course be highlighting the potential future loss for staff who previously had expectations to progress up the pay scale only to find the maxima come crashing down below them. For now however your immediate loss should be calculated as the amount of pay protection that you are receiving.

If you have queries on this please contact your local branch or group secretary, Paul Barnsley at paulba@pcs.org.uk for assistance.

As before PCS members are asked to send a copy of the completed letter to the Director General for Civilian Personnel, Susan Scholefield and also send a copy of the competed grievance letter to PCS at paulba@pcs.org.uk

Update on negotiations

There have been no further responses or efforts by the department to resolve our dispute. We have not received a response from Susan Scholefield to our invitation to meet PCS members directly to discuss their concerns on pay. It is worth reminding all members of the issues that we are still in dispute with our employer on:

1. The attack on the pay of the lowest paid staff with huge cuts to pay at the E1 and E2 pay band maxima. Our union wants MoD to work with us to agree fair pay band maxima for these pay bands.
2. A disgraceful attempt by MoD to cut the future pensions of all staff, particularly at pay bands E1 and E2. Our union is demanding a guarantee of no detriment to our members pensions.
3. A series of cuts to the pay and allowances of civil servants serving overseas. Our union is seeking an agreement that treats PCS members working abroad fairly and which rewards their commitment.
4. MoD scale shortening has pushed many members back down to their pay band minima – this after member’s have spent years moving away from it. Our union wants an agreement on scale shortening that rewards long service and loyalty and where our members can get to rate for the job- the band maxima quickly.
5. Freezing pay band maxima at senior pay bands. Our union wants a fair pay for all staff in all grades.
6. The offer is divisive and does not meet the terms of the PCS national and group pay claim. Our members have suffered years of low pay and below inflation awards. Many members continue to struggle to make ends meet and the MoD pay system needs urgent reform.

National campaign

PCS members met last month at our annual conference, and voted overwhelmingly in favour of a detailed motion aimed at securing better pay across the civil service. A report on the motion is below.

The new PCS national executive committee will meet this month to decide the programme for widespread consultation with members across the whole of PCS about the way forward for our national pay campaign.

Remember together we are stronger – ask your work friends to join us today!

A further update on pay will be issued shortly.

  MoD pay grievance template letter

MoD pay scales 2006 - 2009

At the start of the session, delegates were united in anger and galvanised to act over the government’s failure to honour its side of the pay deal that should have seen efficiency savings result in increased pay.

Addressing conference to move motion A627, general secretary Mark Serwotka declared that the new policy which we had secured through a campaign and industrial action ballot last year, “had not resulted in a single penny more in members’ pay”.

Mark highlighted how government and management had broken their promises to members. He told how a number of managers had not even applied for any extra money.

“We need to say loud and clear that this is simply not acceptable,” said Mark, who also reiterated the opposition to regional and performance related pay.
In unity we must go forward, consult with members over the summer and then act.” he added, and he urged members to turn their anger on management and Gordon Brown.

Gerry McMahon, of Glasgow North branch, pointed out that there are still 43 billionaires living in the UK. “As far as we are concerned 40,000 workers in DWP got no pay rise last year. We have a duty to respond,” Gerry said.

Jane Aitchison, DWP group president, pointed out that “MPs can find money to clean their moats while our members struggle to pay the rent.” The motion was passed.