Public and Commercial Services Union

The results of the consultative ballot of PCS members in HMRC on the 2009 pay offer are as follows:

QUESTION 1

Do you agree to reject the pay offer?

Number voting YES ...........................    23,801   (83.48% of valid vote)
Number voting NO ............................      4,710   (16.52% of valid vote)
                                                TOTAL    28,511   (100% of valid vote)

QUESTION 2

Would you be prepared to take part in additional action short of strike in HMRC, including an overtime ban, over and above any action called following a national ballot of PCS members?

Number voting YES ...........................    23,289   (81.81% of valid vote)
Number voting NO ............................      5,177   (18.19% of valid vote)
                                                TOTAL    28,466   (100% of valid vote)

We would like to take this opportunity to thank members for voting in this ballot, and to thank branch activists and members for the efforts in arranging and taking the time to attend members’ consultation meetings during the summer period.

National pay ballot to begin on 24 September

Now that we have completed our consultation over the HMRC pay offer we now move to the next phase of activity. The national, statutory ballot on pay will begin on 24 September and run through until 17 October. We understand that having two ballots on the same subject matter does appear confusing for members. In short though, we have consulted all members in HMRC on the pay offer. PCS members have resoundingly rejected that pay offer, and given solid support for action in support of achieving a fair pay offer. We now move to a statutory, legal ballot of all PCS members across the whole of the union in order that we are able to proceed with strike action should that be required.

Taking action together

PCS members in HMRC are not alone amongst PCS members generally in facing offers this year that are well below inflation. Our argument for fair pay in HMRC is as much with the government as it is with the Department. It is essential therefore that we make common cause both with our colleagues in other departments and in other parts of the union, as well as with public sector unions in other areas of public service who also face derisory offers and arbitrary pay caps. In so doing we will be best placed to put pressure on both the Department and, fundamentally, on the government, to revise policy and practice on pay. If we stand together with our colleagues we can succeed.

It is envisaged at this stage that if members across the union vote in favour of action then national strike action will follow in early November, followed by waves of action in the period up to January 2009. As part of this national action we are in discussion with our counterparts in other sections of the union to consider joint action to take place over a specific week in this period, as well as playing our part in supporting a civil service wide overtime ban throughout this three month period of initial action. In addition to the national action, and on the basis of today’s HMRC pay ballot result, we are also engaged in further discussion with the national union in relation to the additional action we may be able to ask PCS members in HMRC to take in furtherance of our own demands for fair pay in HMRC.

Next steps

All Branches will be issued with further guidance and advice in the coming days. It is absolutely essential that we convert the solid support that PCS members in HMRC have shown in this ballot – in rejecting the offer and showing a commitment to take further action – into support for action across the whole of the civil service and related bodies.

All PCS members will receive a national, statutory ballot paper from 24 September and the result will be known on 17 October.

• All members are urged to vote for action in the national ballot which begins on 24 September
• Members’ meetings will be set up at a place near your workplace – please do all that you can to attend these meetings
• Members are urged to get involved in ongoing campaigns to save local offices and jobs

Thanks for your support.