PCS seeks joint judicial review over pensions robbery

The 6 unions, PCS, FBU, GMB Union, POA, Royal College of Nursing, and Unite, are asking judges to force the government to make a cut in employee pensions contributions which should have been brought in nearly three years ago. This followed the 2016 valuation of the civil service pension scheme; however, the government blocked the agreed cost-sharing mechanism and PCS members have been forced to overpay into their civil service pensions over the past couple of years and have ‘lost’ on average £1,000. The legal action seeks to force the government to change its decision.

The justification for this was initially that costs were changed by the finding of the Court of Appeal that the way scheme changes were introduced involved unlawful age discrimination which must be rectified, but these costs will be spread over 20 years rather than one 4-year cycle.

PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members and key workers across the public sector have kept the country running during the pandemic and yet the government, their employer, has treated them appallingly. Bringing this case is a significant, united step in fighting this great injustice.”

So far more 19,000 people have used our pensions loss calculator to see how much they have lost this year. They have also used the e-action to tell their MP they want them to do something about it.

Our national executive committee has also announced this week that we will be moving to a consultative ballot of all public sector members in the new year on our national campaign to raise pay, pensions and living standards.