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Public sector pay - tell us your stories

5 September 2008

PCS is campaigning for fair public sector pay - we are not asking for any favours, just a decent living wage.

"PCS members contribute every single day to the running of this country, and they’re not asking for double digit pay rises and pots of gold. What we’re asking for is a living wage and no cuts in our living standards." Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary.

Victims not the causes of inflation

The government is saying that pay rises for public sector workers that match inflation would cause more inflation - even the experts say this is not the case.

PCS members are being squeezed by below inflation pay offers on one side and massive increases in the cost of living on the other.

  • Susan is a PCS member working in the prison service - she can't afford to a birthday present for her son.
  • Katie is a ministerial diary officer - she's living in shared accomodation and will never be able to afford her own place.
  • Carol is an internation trade adviser - she needs to drive because of her disability, yet she can't afford petrol for her car.
  • Mohammed is a case worker for the Child Support Agency - he has had to take a weekend job to make ends meet.

 

How is public sector pay affecting you - tell us your story here on PCS comment.

PCS members work hard to keep the country running - we deserve better. Find out more about our pay campaign.

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  1. Pay award

    1 November 2008

    I started work as an AO band B with the DWP on the 16th July 2008 and my pay is £14700. A colleague who is doing the same job but started just 2 weeks earlier (01/07/08) has been awarded the pay rise. Can you tell me if you think that this is right. How can a grade have a different pay scale dependant on your start date.

    alison reason
    RISING INFLATION

    1 October 2008

    Instead of blaming us for the rise in inflation the Government should look at the way they "threw" loans and credit cards at us the last few years. Thinking, foolishly, that my pay rise would co-incide with inflation I envisaged being able to pay this debt off. Unfortunately, the high rises in heating, housing, food and petrol etc has really taken it's toll and I have since had to sell my flat, move back in with my parents at age 34 and visit an Insolvency Practitioner to help repay the debt. Any savings I should be making are going on the cost of living/surviving. It's depressing!

    Elaine Strachan
    PROGRESSION

    23 September 2008

    i HAVE BEEN WITH THE DWP FOR 12 YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN AO GRADE THROUGHOUT THIS TIME. I HAVE STILL NOT REACHED THE TOP OF THE PAY SCALE FOR MY GRADE.I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS ABOUT TIME THE DWP TOP BRASS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. EVERY YEAR I FEEL I AM BEING EXPLOITED BY DWP WHO DELIBERATELY KEEP MY WAGES DOWN AND USE THE ECONOMIC SITUATION TO DEFEND THERE DECISION. MEANWHILE THE GOVERNMENT AWARD THEMSELVES ABOVE INFLATION PAY RISES.

    PHIL GIBBS
    approaching pension age

    19 September 2008

    I have worked for DWP in it's various forms for over 40 years. I am due to retire next year. This year I get a zero % pay rise. This is my final year so I hoped this would be my best of the last 3 years for my pension calculation. How foolish a dream ! My income will now be affected for ever in my retirement. I contacted Leigh Lewis when our zero pay award was announced - he "understood my anger" but has done nothing to defuse it !!!! And all I can look forward to is high inflation - as we well know food, fuel costs, etc are all rising sharply. And no doubt "they" will expect us all to do lots more in this period of rising unemployment . Am I still angry ? - well, what do you think ?

    pam darby
    What a joke! (but I'm not laughing!)

    19 September 2008

    How on earth are we supposed to survive, let alone 'live' when we're awarded such ridiculous pay awards! My pay offer amounts to £468 per year. After Tax and NI that leaves me £26.91 per month. Not even enough to cover the rise in fuel bills... I have worked for this organisation for over 16 years and am at the maximum band for my payband. Therefore, I get very little (or nothing at all) in way of a pay increase. It's terrible!!! As another member has already stated 'this winter it will be a choice between food or heat!'. Gordon Brown doesn't live in the real world!!! Could he survive with £260 per week take home pay in this financial climate??? I'd love to see that!

    Anne Blundell
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