Scrooge bosses force civil servants to work for almost seven weeks without pay in the run-up to Xmas

Scrooge bosses are forcing civil servants to work for almost seven weeks without pay in the run-up to Xmas.

Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members working in the Cabinet Office and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office are being transferred from outsourcing giant Mitie to other outsourced companies ISS and OCS.

Some have been told they will have to wait until December 14 for their first pay cheque from their new employer. Others who rely on Universal Credit to top up their wages will have their benefit payments disrupted as their pay frequency will change from monthly to fortnightly.

The union has warned the change will cause their members great financial hardship as Xmas approaches. 

One member told PCS: “I’m a single mother of three with no savings. To wait nearly seven weeks for four weeks’ pay would mean I couldn't pay bills, buy food, pay for gas and electric.

“This comes in a cost-of-living crisis and before Christmas. I am already losing sleep and not able to eat with the worry.”

Another said: “This would create a horrible, stressful environment for my family. Trying to pay the bills, fuel to get back and forth to work, Christmas presents… “

A third told the union: “I’m one of the higher earners in my team. I can only imagine the stress that the other team members are going through.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This heartless and devastating policy will ruin Xmas for many of our members.

“To push this change through without union agreement is appalling. We demand the employer drops this scheme and returns to the old system that allowed workers to budget every month.”

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