WIREDGOV

PCS yesterday 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.

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.

This agreement is an important breakthrough and forms a positive basis on which we can take the union’s pay campaign forward.

 

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. “