It’s been a pivotal time for PCS
In her column for issue 2 of PCS People 2025, Fran explains how June has been a pivotal month for our union.
We have won a groundbreaking deal for some of our lowest paid members working in facilities management (FM), we’ve seen the spending review set out government spending for the next three years, and the major U-turn on winter fuel payments, which is great news for our retired members.
For the past 18 months, hundreds of our members working on government contracts have been striking to secure better pay and terms and conditions. These are some of our lowest paid members, who work as cleaners, security guards, and caterers.
After some of the most vibrant picket lines in PCS history, and weeks of painstaking negotiations, those members have won better pay, improved annual leave, the right to paid sick leave, maternity, paternity and adoption leave and paid bereavement leave.
This will make a real difference to thousands of workers and their families. It would not have happened without a magnificent effort by PCS members, reps, officials and our parliamentary group, which forced their plight onto the agendas of ministers.
We must also credit ministers who instructed officials and companies to negotiate with us to settle this long-running dispute – and have now agreed to talks about coherence across all FM staff, and insourcing.
Then the chancellor set out her spending review. While there was some good news on increased capital spending in transport, energy and housing projects, there are worrying real-terms cuts in some departmental budgets which will give our members cause for concern.
Cuts have consequences. They will hamper your ability to keep the country running, deliver vital services and meet the government’s own objectives.
At a time when the government is finding billions of pounds extra for defence spending and weapons, they appear to be determined to continue with their plan to slash disability benefits. There is no security in rising levels of poverty, homelessness and threadbare public services.
We will be fighting hard to ensure that we defend our members from any threats that may arise to their job security and to persuade the government to deliver properly funded, good quality public services.
One example of that is the campaign we have run on the winter fuel payment in conjunction with our retired members. Defending today’s pensioners preserves rights for today’s workers. Just as enhancing workers’ rights today means a better deal for the next generation too.
This month has shown we have challenges, but more importantly it has shown we can overcome them and win! Solidarity.