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FDA Assistant General Secretary Naomi Cooke responded to the publication of the government’s evidence to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB)

“While the government is adept at listing the many problems that exist in the current Senior Civil Service (SCS) pay structures - inconsistent link between pay and performance, recruitment and retention problems, frequent cases of SCS being paid less than the staff they manage - it has once again failed to recognise that decisive action is needed. 

“Last year the SSRB asked for a ‘fundamental review of SCS pay’, but this evidence represents political cowardice from the government, offering vague long-term commitments in place of the meaningful reform that is needed. 

"Far from an evidence-led workforce pay strategy, slavish adherence to a rigid cost envelope reflects the exact same approach adopted for most of the last decade. 

“The fact that not one more penny has been allocated means the 1% pay cap has been scrapped in name only and our members will once again fail to see a meaningful rise in their pay. 

"This grudging approach speaks volumes as to the lack of urgency and lack of regard the government has for its own staff."

Notes for editors 

1. The FDA is the union for senior managers and professionals in public service, representing more than 18,000 members at grades HEO and above. Membership includes senior civil servants, Government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across the Government and the NHS. 
2. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union". 
3. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union and at www.fda.org.uk. General Secretary Dave Penman tweets as @FDAGenSec. 
4. For further information contact: 

• Matt Foster, Communications Officer, tel: 07982 514 524
• Tommy Newell, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07738 729 145