Comprising of Motion 49 and amendment, Motion 50 and Motion 51 and amendment
Congress congratulates all unions that took part in industrial action over the last two years in response to a continuous policy of pay restraint in the public sector, which has had catastrophic consequences for the living standards of public sector workers.
Congress welcomes the concessions secured but recognises that there is some way to go to restore living standards to where they should be.
Government has a crucial opportunity to rebuild high-quality public services, and to renew their purpose.
Health inequity is soaring. People in the most deprived communities can expect to enjoy considerably fewer years in good health than the most affluent – and trends are set to widen.
Congress recognises that after over a decade of austerity and the ravages of a pandemic, many public services are on their knees.
Those public services rely on a committed workforce of millions of public servants. For too long the public sector has been viewed by government as a second-class employment choice, subject to pay restraint and an ideological opposition to flexible working and innovation.
Congress notes the findings of the report by Dr Mark Williams, commissioned by PCS, which confirms that civil service wages were five per cent above average in the 1970s and 1980s but are now 10 per cent below average; and that pay levels have fallen by an average of 1.5 per cent per year since 2011. Congress agrees that pay restoration in the public sector should be a key feature of our campaigning with the new government.
All public organisations should be empowered to act – tasked with eliminating inequalities through their services, and from their workforce.
However, public services will not be able to play this enhanced role in their current threadbare condition; the impact of austerity remains with us.
Congress welcomes the commitments from the new Labour government to rebuild our public services, but if those public services are to thrive then they need to attract the best talent, whilst retaining and motivating those who have already committed their lives to public service.
Congress notes the election of a Labour government on a manifesto committing to economic growth, improving public services, and making work pay. In order to assist in making that a reality, Congress agrees to campaign for:
i. radical improvements to collective bargaining structures and coverage across the economy, particularly in the public sector
ii. national minimum standards across all sectors on pay and terms and conditions
iii. a rise in the national minimum wage that ends in-work poverty
iv. an end to pay discrimination
v. job security agreements and urgent measures to address staff shortages, resultant excessive workload and poor wellbeing of staff across the public sector
vi. removal of obstacles for trade unions to organise.
Election analysis from the Nuffield Trust found both main parties’ election manifestos would – if realised – result in the tightest spending growth in the NHS’ history. The public sector needs a long-term funding settlement. One that as an immediate priority:
a. delivers timely, fair pay for all workers
b. establishes genuine involvement of unions in pay setting mechanisms
c. prioritises delivery of a long-term workforce strategy.
This would help settle the recruitment and retention crisis across the sector, empowering services to act; and materially benefit public sector workers, who have seen decades of real term pay cuts.
Congress calls on the TUC to work with the new government to pursue an ambitious partnership agenda for public services rejuvenation and pay recovery.
Congress welcomes the proposals from the General Council for a Public Sector Workforce Commission, comprised of trade unions, employers, government and independent experts to develop comprehensive, cross government strategic workforce plans and a Public Sector Workforce unit to oversee delivery.
If the public sector is to be a career of choice, then any new deal must include:
1. pay reform that delivers competitive pay for the skills required and confidence that any mechanism for determining pay will deliver fair outcomes over the longer term
2. a flexible working offer that can help attract and retain talent, is not bound by ideological baggage, offering work life balance whilst delivering high-quality public services
3. greater flexibility to work between sectors, enhancing careers and sharing experience
4. a public sector wide strategy to celebrate the value of public service and rewarding careers that it offers.
5. a public sector wide approach to health and wellbeing to address the high rates of stress and burnout that our members are currently reporting to make the public sector a safe place to work.
Mover: Public and Commercial Services Union
Seconder: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Supporters: FDA, Educational Institute of Scotland, Royal College of Podiatry