PCS members in DWP vote yes to support industrial action

PCS members working in DWP, the largest civil service department, have indicated that they are willing to support potential industrial action over pay in a consultative ballot that closed today (10).  80.5% of members voted yes on a turnout of 52.3%.

The DWP have refused to submit a business case to the treasury to allow them to increase their spending on pay above the level set by the Civil Service Pay Remit.

Members are angry about chronic low pay and wage compression in the department which will see staff in the lowest three grades all sitting at the national living wage from 1 April 2026 after years of underfunding.

A survey of PCS members working in the DWP has revealed that many are unable to pay household bills, are turning to credit cards to get through the month and are struggling with debt. Almost 14% of respondents reported using foodbanks for extra support. The survey results also show that up to 20% of respondents claim in-work benefits.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Year after year, the DWP has promised to do better. But our members who carry the welfare state have had enough of poverty pay.

"Forced to visit foodbanks and claim the same benefits they administer to help them survive, they should instead be paid a decent wage that reflects the important work they do.

"All they want is fair pay and increased recruitment to see their heaving backlogs reduced. Their ringing endorsement of strike action shows that there is a strong determination to fight back against poverty pay."