Decisive moments for national campaign

At yesterday’s two fora, reps from across PCS discussed next steps in our national campaign, with general secretary Fran Heathcote and president Martin Cavanagh. The campaign calls for pay restoration, job security, and better access to flexible and hybrid working.

Research from the University of London, commissioned by PCS, has found the average civil servant has lost £1,300 every year since 2010. At the same time, the research found that improving civil service pay would not only pay for itself through efficiencies but would even increase Treasury income in the long term.

Call to action

Reps and activists were urged to join the forthcoming ballot-ready schools that will focus on engaging members on the issues and ensuring that all branches are focused on a plan to win on our campaign demands. Our campaign will continue to build member engagement at every level, focusing on grassroots organising activity led by reps on the ground.

Fran Heathcote said: “At TUC Congress last year, a PCS-worded motion in favour of pay restoration across the civil service was passed unanimously. We believe there is a strong case for pay restoration – rooted in basic fairness as well as in resolving the practical problems of recruitment and retention in many areas of the civil service.

“We all have a job of work if we are going to be ready for a ballot in September. Whatever the national executive committee decides will be guided by the feedback you give us. We now have the opportunity to engage with the government in a way that we didn’t under the Tories. Will it give us what we want? We need to test that in negotiations. Meanwhile, we need to engage as many members as possible in this campaign.”

What’s next?

Get involved in the sessions this week and next to ensure your branch is ballot-ready.

We urgently need to hear from members. Your union wants to hear your views on how we drive the campaign forward together. Branches will be organising members' meetings in the coming weeks, so please make every effort to come along and have your voice heard.