National Pay Campaign - progress made in talks

While our group campaign for better pay this year continues with the statutory ballot, the union nationally has been engaged in talks with the Cabinet Office over the demands in our national campaign. Central to those talks are our calls for an improved pay and reward system, including the eradication of low pay.

While the level of engagement has been encouraging and some progress has been made in those talks, the real test of the government’s commitment will only come when the new pay remit guidance is issued in April.

PCS has long argued that delegated pay creates the conditions that we as members now face in DWP. Chronic low pay, a lack of pay progression, and massive differentials across grades, have become the norm over the last 30 years. 200+ employers conducting “negotiations” where one single set of national talks should deal with our pay.

It’s an inescapable truth, that fixing the system and moving to national pay bargaining is what is required, but until that happens, we must unite to make sure DWP does better.

As the biggest group in the union the leverage we have, and the weight our members vote can give to ongoing national talks will be hugely significant.

But we must not rely on those talks alone. Smashing that 50% barrier will put massive pressure on an already beleaguered DWP and give your group negotiators the backing to force your employer back around the table.

Pushing out every last vote in this ballot will not only help you and your colleagues in DWP but could be really important to PCS members across the whole civil service.

We can send out a clear statement of intent in the coming days. Let’s unite together to do just that.