Fortnight of strikes after managers fail staff at The Pensions Regulator

On 6 June, after vigorous PCS campaigns and negotiations, the government made an improved pay offer to all civil service and related areas of a £1,500 lump-sum payment and an increase in the pay remit from 2% to 4.5%, with an extra 0.5% targeted for the lowest paid. TPR is now the only civil service employer to date not meeting the recommendation, instead offering 3% with some extras for the worst paid staff.

PCS reps have been in talks with intransigent managers for over a month but to no avail. Management has refused to give the slightest ground on a pay deal which leaves employees worse off. The solid base of union membership has grown extremely rapidly and strike action begins tomorrow (5 September).

TPR has a substantial bonus pot of £1.5 million which, under current proposals, will be paid mainly to the best paid employees. The lowest paid employees will see very little of this money. PCS simply asks TPR to use the bonus pot to make the wage adjustments called for.

PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka says:

“Staff at The Pensions Regulator work hard to ensure that working people’s pensions are protected and properly run. It beggars belief that their managers ignore the government’s own pay recommendations, preferring a performance-related bonus system which is discriminatory in practice and leaves many protected groups worse paid.

“Highly committed reps at TPR have overseen a burgeoning membership in recent weeks. Now these fourteen days of strike action will prove to managers how much they’ve been relying on the hard work and good will of over 250 of their workers. And that PCS members are united in solidarity and not to be messed with.”

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