Vote ‘yes’ to keep fighting for justice on pay, pensions and jobs

A new ballot for industrial action in the UK civil service is under way after we launched the next stage of our collective fight for decent pay, pensions justice, and job protection.

The union’s demands include an inflation-proofed pay rise in 2024/25, plus pay restoration to address the staggering decline in civil service pay over decades. A study of trends commissioned by PCS has shown how devastating the impact has been: civil service wages were 5% above average in the 1970s and 80s but are now 10% below average.

The government has not met the demands in our claim, submitted in February. We must pile on the pressure now before the civil service pay remit guidance is published and implemented.

We know that action works, after winning significant concessions last year. We know our strike levy was a game-changer in enabling us to take hard-hitting action that hurt the employer. The levy will therefore re-start in May.

All members balloted are urged to return their postal vote before 13 May; a minimum 50% turnout is legally required for strike action.

PCS members will be asked to vote across 171 bargaining areas in the dispute. Members in the Scottish devolved sector will not be balloted because they reached a two-year deal on pay and job security last year. They will pay into the levy as they are still affected by the pensions injustice, which PCS and others are fighting in court.