PCS: MPs urged to throw out attempt to cut civil service redundancy pay

Monday, 6 September 2010 12:00 AM

MPs urged to throw out attempt to cut civil service redundancy pay

The Public and Commercial Services union is urging MPs to throw out a government bill that would severely cut the terms available to civil servants who lose their jobs.

As part of its ongoing campaign against the coalition government's plans to impose stringent caps on payments under the civil service compensation scheme, the union's members have been asking their MPs to participate in the debate when the superannuation bill has its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday (7 Sept).

More than 130 MPs - including almost a quarter of all Liberal Democrat MPs - have signed a parliamentary motion encouraging the new government to seek a negotiated settlement after the union's successful High Court challenge to the previous government's plans to cut redundancy terms.

The union is pleased that Labour MPs are being urged to support an amendment that would strike out the bill on the basis that the government has not properly consulted staff and the unions, and the plans do nothing to protect to the lowest paid.

PCS reps will hold a demonstration opposite the St Stephen's entrance to parliament between 12pm and 2pm on Tuesday.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This bill is deeply unfair and was introduced without any consultation or negotiation. It is being rushed through simply to make it easier and cheaper for the government to make tens of thousands of its own workforce redundant.

"We believe the bill should be abandoned and proper negotiations opened to allow us to reach a fair settlement that protects existing members' rights, as upheld by the High Court."

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 more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's fifth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich

- Follow PCS on Twitter

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