Public and Commercial Services Union
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MPs support compensation scheme rethink

Over a 100 MPs from across the main parties have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) expressing deep concern about unilateral changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme PCS said recently.

The EDM (251), supported by 105 MPs including former ministers, urges the government to re-examine the ‘disappointing and unfair proposals’ which will see staff robbed of their entitlements if they are forced out of their jobs and could lead to the government cutting jobs on the cheap.

The union claimed that the strong support for the EDM demonstrated the mounting political opposition to the changes and urged the government to find a negotiated settlement ahead of a meeting between the Cabinet Office and PCS on Monday next week.

The talks will be followed by a meeting of PCS’s national executive committee (NEC) who could trigger a strike ballot across the civil service if ministers press ahead with their plans and refuse to find an acceptable agreement that defends existing members’ entitlements.

The NEC will also hear updates on the union’s joint legal challenge and call for a judicial review over the changes, which it is pursuing with other civil service unions.

The government need to pay heed to the political pressure that is mounting over these unfair and unilateral changes.

 

The EDM 251 Civil Service Compensation Scheme and its signatories can be viewed on the UK Parliament website.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The government need to pay heed to the political pressure that is mounting over these unfair and unilateral changes.

"Over a hundred MPs recognise that the government should be protecting those who have given loyal service over a number of years rather than slashing their redundancy entitlements and cutting their jobs on the cheap.

"The talks on Monday offer the government the opportunity to find a negotiated settlement that avoids a damaging dispute and legal action."

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