FAQs - FCDO Industrial action ballot

How to vote

Can I vote online?

No. PCS is legally required to run this ballot via post, as it is a ballot on industrial action.

What is the final day to post my ballot paper?

Ballot papers need to reach our scrutineers by Monday 20 April (at noon). You have been sent a second class pre-paid envelope which takes up to three days to reach its destination, and there are postal delays in some areas, so we believe the final day to post and be confident it will arrive in time is Tuesday 14 April (before the last post). You can try posting on 15 April, but the chances of your ballot paper arriving in time are reduced.

How do I find my nearest postbox?

Type in your home or work postcode to find your nearest postbox on the Royal Mail website.

I haven't yet received my ballot paper. Is it too late?

Not necessarily. If you requested a replacement ballot paper before noon on 2 April, it will have been posted to you and should arrive any day now. Similarly, if you joined PCS after 24 February, or added your home address/corrected your workplace on PCS Digital after 24 February, you were added to the ballot on 2 April and a ballot paper will have been posted to you first class.

Is there a legal minimum number of members who need to vote?

Yes, we need at least 50% of members in the ballot to return your ballot papers by the deadline. 

Is it a secret ballot?

Yes.

Why are overseas members not being balloted?

This was a decision taken by your branch and full-time officers after much debate, and solely for logistical reasons. The ballot is only five weeks - because FCDO refused to pause the restructure during the internal dispute meetings with PCS - and so we needed to balance the duration of the ballot with the ability to take impactful industrial action at a point when it could still meaningfully influence the outcome of FCDO 2030. 

To take any action we need at least 50% of members balloted to return their ballot papers by the deadline - this is a legal requirement. A lot of members overseas have home addresses listed in the UK so we would expect it to take longer for you to receive your ballot paper, and then for it to arrive after you'd posted. This could make the difference between achieving 50% turnout or not. 

We are discussing ways that overseas members can still support any action collectively.

Importance of voting - and voting yes / yes

What is the ballot about?

PCS is in a legal ‘trade dispute’ with FCDO for the following reasons:

• A failure to meaningfully consult on a restructure resulting in job cuts, and failure to provide an adequate rationale or business case for the restructure and job cuts, a Work Force Plan in line with the 2016 Civil Service Job Protocols and Equality Impact Assessment which meets legal requirements.
• Proposed 25% job cuts (approx. 2,000 staff).
• Refusal to give PCS a no compulsory redundancy guarantee.

We are asking members to vote YES / YES in support of these demands:

1. The restructure is paused and essential information provided so that meaningful consultation with unions can take place.
2. A no compulsory redundancy guarantee.

Why is it important for me to vote?

A strong turnout in this ballot will send a powerful message to the FCDO leadership that staff feel so concerned and critical of the restructure process and outcomes that we are prepared to stop working if we have to. It will demonstrate how strongly we feel in a way that nothing else has. They will know we can disrupt, and in some cases stop, essential or high profile work.

We hope that a successful ballot result will force the leadership to pause the restructure and properly consult with PCS and the other unions. Given the dangerous situation in the Middle East, there is growing MP and parliamentary concern about the irresponsibility of expecting staff to apply for new roles, and worry about their job security, at such a crucial time - not to mention the longer-term impact on the essential role we play. There is also significant media interest in the restructure, and a successful ballot result will generate media scrutiny. 

If the foreign secretary or even prime minister has to face difficult questions in parliament, or from the media, they may feel the need to intervene.

Will we definitely take industrial action?

PCS is running an industrial action ballot because negotiations have failed to deliver change. We don't do this lightly. However, as explained above, each step of this dispute is a process. By balloting for action, we are testing the level of concern amongst our members in the workforce. In and of itself, this ballot is the most important way you can tell FCDO leadership how you feel. 

If we achieve over 50% we will then review next steps, including stepping up our bargaining, parliamentary and media campaigning.

If I vote Yes / Yes to strike action or action short of a strike will I have to take action?

Voting in this ballot is separate from taking action. 

If we achieve the 50% turnout threshold, we will then consider if action needs to be called. This will be a decision taken by your elected PCS representatives in consultation with PCS full-time officers.

Voting does not commit you to taking action. If we do call for action, we hope you will respond as industrial action is based on strength in numbers and is only ever called when a majority of those voting democratically agree with it. However, it will be your choice. A trade union cannot force any member to take action, or sanction them for not doing.

Email your MP

Is there any other action I can take to support our campaign?

There is growing concern about the restructure amongst MPs, and that the proposed major cuts will cause significant damage to the FCDO's core role across the world, especially at a time of war in the Middle East. 

Please take two minutes to use our e-action to email your MP asking them to support the PCS campaign to pause the restructure, sign Early Day Motion 3042 and write to the foreign secretary.