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 Strike ballot called after government refuses to negotiate

A quarter of a million civil and public servants will be balloted for strikes after the government refused to negotiate over cuts to pay, pensions and working conditions.

The union wrote to the Cabinet Office and civil service employers before Christmas asking for talks on the key issues affecting the lives of civil servants and the services they are able to provide to the public.

After hearing that the head of the civil service Bob Kerslake has refused to engage on any of these issues, the union's national executive committee agreed today (16) to move to an industrial action ballot starting on Friday 8 February and closing on Monday 4 March.

If the government continues to refuse to negotiate the union will make plans for a series of strikes over a period of time, including full and half-days, and shorter walkouts. It is also writing to other unions to seek discussions about the possibility of co-ordinated or supportive action.

The announcement comes as ministers turn their fire on the civil service in what the union says is a clear attempt to try to deflect attention from the fact that austerity isn't working and that political decisions are causing serious damage to our economy.

Because of massive job cuts civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the public services that we all rely on. But instead of rewarding them, the government is cutting their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their contracts by cutting terms and conditions.

A plan announced in the autumn to review all civil service working conditions could lead to longer working hours and fewer family-friendly policies. The four-year pay freeze and cap, and increased pension contributions, would cut pay by 16% on average by 2014.

Branch Secretary Martin Hickman states:

The question is simply anyone who does not support the fightback is in effect consenting to agree to have their terms and conditions torn up.  We got a result over the redundancies and we can do it again. A stick your head in sand approach only leads to further attacks.  I would urge as many members as possible to join us on the picket lines, lets give them a clear message we will not go quietly into the night, we are here to fight back and win for all our class.  Spread the word have the conversation with non members its their terms & condition too.

 

 There is an Alternative: The case against public spending cuts