Redundancy payment cap will have far wider impact than just so-called ‘fat cats’, says FDA

28 May 2015 11:53 AM

Following the announcement in the Queen's Speech that the Government intends to cap redundancy payments for public sector workers, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman said:

"Whilst the rhetoric around the Government's plans is about cutting redundancy pay-offs for fat cats, the reality is that this cap will impact upon nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers and paramedics.

"In the civil service we have already reformed redundancy arrangements in a deal that the Conservative Minister for the Cabinet Office at the time, Francis Maude, described as 'fair for the longer term'.

"When entering into negotiations, confidence that agreements will be honoured is essential. This move, made in the first few days of the new Parliament, sends worrying signals about the Government's readiness to honour agreements reached in good faith."

Notes for editors

1. More about the FDA's 'New Government: New Deal' campaign can be found at www.fda.org.uk/New-Government-New-Deal

2. The FDA is the trade union for the UK's senior public servants and professionals. FDA membership includes more than 18,000 senior civil servants, Government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across Government and the NHS.

3. 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". 

4. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union and at www.fda.org.uk.

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