PCS enters dispute with FCDO over job cuts and performance pay
The department has failed to meaningfully consult the unions on its restructuring and job cuts programme and has imposed a new and potentially discriminatory performance pay system.
PCS has written to the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) to lodge a dispute with the department over FCDO's failure to meaningfully consult with PCS on the planned major restructuring and job cuts programme. The programme is intended to affect 25%-30% of staff, and is scheduled to start on 12 November.
A failure to meaningfully consult unions on potential job losses is a major breach of a national agreement between the Cabinet Office and the civil service trade unions. This national agreement known as the 'protocols' applies to all government departments planning changes which can or will lead to redundancy and job cuts.
The other element of our dispute with FCDO is opposition to the potentially discriminatory performance pay system, which has also been imposed by the department.
Under the FCDO-unions dispute mechanism, FCDO must halt implementation of a proposal until it has meaningfully consulted with PCS and the other, smaller, unions.
The PCS letter to FCDO sets out in detail the urgent reasons for triggering the dispute.