DWP Ballot Result – threshold not met

Your group executive committee wants to thank every rep that has stepped up throughout the ballot, every member that has taken your ballot paper to the post box and the national union for its support.

It is unfortunate that despite a huge turn out with thousands of members sending a clear message to the DWP that they were prepared to strike for an uplift to 25/26 pay, not all members have used their vote.

The group did not meet the 50% threshold of members voting that is required by anti TU legislation. Members cannot take strike action at this time.

The threshold introduced by the Tory government to tie our hands was to be removed by the current government. They have not honoured that commitment.

That said, your GEC has run a strong campaign, against the obstacles presented; the DWP challenge that forced a delay, and most damaging of all, the Royal Mail crisis that has seen hundreds of post codes affected by backlogs of post. As members reported ballot papers arriving weeks late, some arriving as the ballot closed, with replacements late or not received, it was reported that parcel deliveries were to be prioritised over letters. In the final week, almost 4,000 members had advised they were ready to vote as soon as their papers arrived. It has been a perfect storm.

From members in the office, to branches, to the GEC, we have worked across all principles to win this ballot and win it we did on the numbers with a ‘yes’ vote for action of 85%. But for that threshold, we would now be moving to strike.

DWP has set its marker down; your employer putting the transformation of the service above all else. Their disregard for our members was laid bare in the enabling functions review announcement as loyal, hardworking staff were told that the review has put their jobs in jeopardy. UCR members are still working under serious levels of stress, Jobcentre workers put at risk by government’s controversial plans that will increase the threat level in offices as DWP continue to cut security guards; members on telephony will see increased threats on the phone and suicide calls that we are ill equipped to deal with.

A mandate to strike on pay would have allowed the GEC to build a strategy to win improvements across the board. That is not to be at this time.

The GEC will meet now to discuss next steps – and members should be assured, we will continue to challenge this department on all fronts. We are not cowed. We are enthused by the YES vote and our campaign continues.