PCS: High court challenge over government's cuts to redundancy pay

Monday, 18 July 2011 2:49 PM

High court challenge over government's cuts to redundancy pay

The government's cuts to redundancy terms for civil and public servants will tomorrow (19) face a legal challenge in the high court from the two largest civil service unions.

The Public and Commercial Services union and Prison Officers' Association are challenging by way of a judicial review cuts to redundancy pay imposed through legislation passed last year.

The unions - which together represent almost two-thirds of the total civil service workforce - argue that, because rights to certain redundancy terms have accrued through length of service, they are classed as a "possession" in human rights law and should not be "interfered with" unless there is an over-riding public interest.

In November, MPs and Lords on the human rights joint committee criticised the government's plans as they were going through parliament, saying ministers had not made the case for capping payouts.

During the bill's progress, PCS accused Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude of misleading MPs when he claimed in parliament the union had declined invitations to negotiate.

The previous government's attempt to impose a civil service compensation scheme, which governs redundancy terms, was struck down by the high court shortly before the general election last year following a successful judicial review taken by PCS.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Ministers simply want to make it easier and cheaper to throw 100,000 of their own staff out of work in the deluded belief this will help our economy get back on track.

"We are determined to fight this, not just to protect our members' jobs but to defend the communities they serve from the ideological vandals in this Tory-led cabinet. Instead of cutting jobs, the government should be creating them and investing in our public services to help our economy to grow."

- Representatives of PCS will hold a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, between 8.30am and 10.30am on Tuesday 19 July.

ENDS

Notes

- For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216

- The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has around 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich - on Twitter @janicegodrich

- Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union

Tags:
• employment
,
• pcs