Cuts will have consequences
In Fran's column for PCS People she writes about the government's proposed cuts to the civil service, welfare and benefits.
Many members will have listened anxiously to Rachel Reeves’ spring statement. As expected, the chancellor laid out plans for £2 billion in cuts to the civil service.
After years of damaging austerity, any further cuts will have consequences, not just for public sector workers, but for the people that rely on the services our members provide.
Again we’ve heard the tired old false divide between the ‘back office’ and ‘frontline’ being wheeled out. PCS represents both back office and frontline workers. And as any frontline worker knows, a dedicated back office staff is necessary to deliver on the frontline – the divide is a false one.
Cuts to departments would have a negative impact on our members’ ability to keep the country running, deliver services and meet the policy objectives the government has set for itself. The last government proved you can’t cut your way to growth.
After years of pay freezes, caps and below-inflation settlements, there is an urgent need to fund better pay for public servants. Our members are watching their energy bills rise again, water bills soar by up to 47%, council tax and rents going up, and transport fares increase. With inflation forecast to average 3.2%, pay settlements need to reflect the pressures on households.
The cuts to disability benefits will also hit our members. Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are paid to disabled people to cope with their additional living costs. For many, it is the receipt of PIP that enables them to work – taking that away risks excluding more disabled people from the workplace, including thousands of our members.
Over recent weeks and months it has been a privilege to join our members on their picket lines – whether that’s over low pay, forced office attendance or other damaging changes to terms and conditions.
While civil service members have not been taking action as part of a national campaign, I have been arguing since last year that the levy should be paused. In February, the NEC finally agreed to pause the levy – and so members will see a reduction in their subs.
Our members working on outsourced contracts have taken an extended period of strike action over pay, zero-hour contracts and sick pay. They have been an inspiration. The government should keep its pledge to bring about the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation and ensure all workers receive fair and equal pay. For years governments have failed to take responsibility for workers working on government contracts, but our members have forced them to sit down with us in negotiations. These talks continue as PCS People goes to press, so check the website for updates.