Received from: PCS
Merged into composite 15
Congress welcomes the pay settlements reached in the public sector during 2018 which have breached the 1 per cent government pay cap, in some instances with extra funding, but notes that inflation (RPI) was running as high as 3.7 per cent in January 2018, and that our members have suffered years of real-terms pay cuts.
Congress notes that following the 2017 general election the issue of the public sector pay cap was at the forefront of political debate and that in September 2017 the chief secretary to the treasury said that the pay cap would be lifted.
Despite this announcement, the government has continued to limit pay increases in the civil service and related areas to between 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent. The pay cap has already had a devastating effect on the value of the incomes of our members. PCS research shows the effect of that policy will mean that average civil service pay will have fallen in value by over 20 per cent by 2020.
Congress notes the pay claim submitted by PCS for 5 per cent or £1,200 and the statutory ballot launched by PCS in June 2018 following the lack of any positive response from the government. Congress pledges to give full support to PCS members in the event of industrial action.
Congress calls on the General Council to coordinate a public sector pay campaign for above-inflation pay increases for all public sector workers, to include the coordinating of bargaining timetables and pay demands, campaign activities, ballots and industrial action.
Public and Commercial Services Union
AMENDMENT
- Insert new paragraph 4:
“Congress notes TUC estimates that show public sector workers such as crown prosecutors, NHS
specialist dieticians, prison officers, firefighters, nuclear maintenance engineers, teachers and
NHS ancillary staff are out of pocket by between £1,000 and £4,000 in real terms (based on CPI).
Fire Brigades Union