PCS urges Labour not to water down new deal for workers

Responding to reports that the Labour party is planning to water down its new deal for workers, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said such a U-turn does not give people the hope they desperately need.

Reports from the Financial Times claimed that shadow ministers have been discussing their New Deal for Workers with corporate leaders and are looking to unveil a watered-down version of the plan as part of their pro-business push.

In response to these reports, Fran said that "any government, but especially a Labour government with a likely large majority, should be strengthening workers’ rights, their pay and their terms and conditions”.

Leaked on May Day, a fact which was "not lost on members", Fran called reports a “major blow” because of the lack of commitments to addressing low pay and collective bargaining – two key issues for our members.

On the day that these reports surfaced, Fran addressed a May Day rally in Trafalgar Square: “After a decade and a half of misery we need a new Labour government to tackle the issues our members face head on immediately.”

She added that “people want to look to a future that’s filled with hope and optimism, but this latest U-turn does the exact opposite. Ordinary people have been through too much to be let down again.”

Have you voted in our national ballot?

If you haven’t already done so, please vote in our national ballot for strike action, which runs until noon on Monday 13 May.

Find out more about the ballot on our FAQs web page; our demands include a cost-of-living rise with an inflation-proofed increase, in addition to pay restoration.

For your vote to count, you’ll need to have completed your ballot paper, and posted it in the pre-paid envelope, in time for it to be received by that 13 May deadline.

When you’ve completed and posted your ballot paper, please log in to PCS Digital and tell us you’ve voted.