Civil Servants win pay battle in court
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Civil servants have won their court battle to maintain a deal on redundancy payments.
The High Court ruled yesterday that the government's attempts to cut back on payments to civil servants who have been let go was unlawful.
Mr Justice Scales said the cost-cutting rule changes must be undone because the Cabinet Office failed to get the agreement of the PCS union before introducing them.
The union, led by Mark Serwotka, held a number of strikes against the move, including one on Budget day.
Mr Serwotka, said: "Our members in the civil and public services refused to sit back and watch their terms and conditions being ripped up in front of their eyes.
"We have always accepted that changes are necessary but all we ever asked is that they were fair and protected those who have given loyal service. We will now be knocking on the door of the next government to remind ministers they are legally obliged to reach an agreement with us. If they do not meet their obligations, the union will have to consider further industrial and legal action."
A Cabinet Office spokesperson confirmed the scheme was being suspended immediately and said: "We are disappointed by the high court's decision. We are considering the terms of the judgment."
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