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Maude's claim is 'cynical and crude'

30 July 2010

The latest line from the government that thousands of civil servants are sat 'twiddling their thumbs' is just another attempt to soften up the public to accept massive job cuts.

In evidence to the public administration select committee earlier this week, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude claimed many civil servants are “in limbo” because they are “too expensive” to make redundant.

This is nonsense. The truth is that, because of massive job cuts across the civil service over the past six years, many of our members are at risk of compulsory redundancy.

Under the protocol, agreed with the Cabinet Office, and in line with employment law, their employer has to make efforts to redeploy them into other jobs. Thanks to constant vigilance by PCS reps, most departments carry out this task well.

Our members facing redundancy are certainly not doing nothing - they are working on other projects, finishing up the work of an office that has been closed, or helping out other parts of their department left short of staff and under pressure from other job cuts, as well as seeking redeployment.

They remain committed to the services they provide, despite having the axe hanging over their heads.

Maude’s claim is a cynical, crude and insulting attempt to further his case for attacking contractual redundancy rights built up over years of service.

At the same committee hearing, PCS deputy general secretary Hugh Lanning reminded MPs that the High Court has twice ruled that these terms cannot be changed without agreement.

Not content with furthering the myth of gold-plated pensions and overly-generous redundancy payments, Maude accuses them of treading water. He then has the cheek to say this is no way to treat people.

We will continue to campaign and argue against the attacks on the civil service compensation scheme, our jobs and our services.

We know there is an alternative to politically driven cuts and will use every opportunity to make the case for investing in our public services.

 

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