MPs briefed on key PCS issues

Yesterday’s (29) scheduled PCS parliamentary group meeting was postponed due to MPs attending the chancellor, Rachel Reeves', statement on public spending in the Commons chamber. That hasn’t stopped MPs getting our briefing materials on a range of issues.

Our briefing on civil service pay was sent to MPs ahead of the statement. Information we presented to MPs included the new PCS-commissioned academic research that explains why pay in the civil service pays for itself over the longer term, contributes to economic growth and does not fuel inflation.

Our parliamentary group report also included updates on the ongoing DWP G4S strikes, and the ISS pay dispute in DESNZ, where the threat of action has led to improved pay and terms and conditions. This follows an early day motion (EDM) being tabled calling for outsourced workers in the civil service to be brought back in-house. Ask your MP to sign the EDM.

We also used the briefing to call on MPs to support our campaign to get the three sacked reps at HMRC Benton Park View reinstated. Use our e-action to ask your MP to support this important campaign.  

While MPs are being briefed, our PCS groups have been seeking meetings with their respective new government ministers. This includes a letter from the DWP group to work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, setting out our concerns over workload pressures and the need for social security reform which has support at its heart.   

A letter has also been sent to James Murray, the minister with responsibility for HMRC, explaining PCS’s tax justice campaign and the need to tackle the tax gap and setting out other areas where HMRC’s resourcing needs to be bolstered, including in customer services functions.

Supportive MPs have already intervened on PCS members’ behalf in the House of Commons about our demands on pay and ending outsourcing. PCS will ensure MPs are briefed so that our members’ voices continue to be heard in Parliament.