The Labour party’s announcement of a 20-point plan to transform the workplace, including a pledge to end the 1% public sector pay cap, alongside commitments to restore collective pay bargaining and repeal the Trade Union Act, has been welcomed by the Public and Commercial Services Union.
The 1% public sector pay cap has been disastrous for all public sector workers, for public services and for economic growth, according to the union.
In contrast, PCS have alleged that the Conservative government’s current policy to impose a 1% cap on public sector pay until 2020 seriously undermines the prime minister’s claim that she wants to help “just about managing” families.
PCS has campaigned nationally for a return to national civil service pay bargaining – scrapped by the Tories in the 1990s – to replace the separate departmental and agency pay negotiations presently in place which creates inequality.
Responding to Labour’s 20-point plan for security and equality at work, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
“There is an overwhelming and unarguable case to end the public sector pay cap to prevent a further decline in living standards in the coming years.
“Labour’s pledge to end the pay cap is welcome news for PCS members. It is clear that the commitments to improve collective bargaining and strengthen employment rights announced by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are in our members’ interests.
“These commitments are in stark contrast to the current government’s repeated attacks on trade union rights, pay and conditions and the disregard the Tories have for civil and public services.”
