PCS: Union reaches agreement with the Government over pay

Tuesday, 2 December 2008 12:00 AM

The Public and Commercial and Commercial Services Union (PCS) today announced a breakthrough in its pay campaign by reaching a national agreement with the government over pay.

Following intensive talks over the past three weeks, the union's national executive committee endorsed the agreement, which means that money from 'efficiency savings' will now be released for pay bargaining in individual departments and related public bodies. The government has also said that there is no 2% cap on pay increases.

The agreement detailed in a letter from the head of civil service, Sir Gus O'Donnell sets out a framework for resolving current pay disputes and for future pay negotiations. A copy of the letter can be found on the PCS website via this link:
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/national-pay-campaign/pay-campaign--members-briefing/

Whilst the threat of industrial action has been lifted the union's pay campaign continues and negotiators will be testing the agreement in pay negotiations. There will also be further talks with the government on performance pay, pay progression, regional pay and reducing the number of bargaining areas.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "This agreement is an important breakthrough and forms a positive basis on which we can take the union's pay campaign forward. Over the coming weeks and months we will be ensuring that this agreement produces better pay for the low paid civil and public servants who deliver the everyday things we take for granted. We will also be seeking to address our remaining concerns over pay though further talks."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

* For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 2820 or 07833 978216.

* PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing 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 sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

Alex Flynn
National Press Officer
Public and Commercial Services Union
160 Falcon Rd
London SW11 2LN

Direct line: 020 7801 2747
Mobile: 07833 978 216
Fax: 020 7924 1847

Support the PCS campaign for fair pay for civil and public servants:
we are asking for pay increases that match inflation and fair pay progression.

Public servants are the victims not the cause of inflation!

Sign the petition, watch the video and find out more at www.pcs.org.uk/fairpay

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