On the 17th and 18th March there was a well supported strike by PCS members in the Department for Work and Pensions, which was a further two days of strike in protest at an imposed pay offer. The imposed offer means 40% of staff receive no rise this year and the lowest paid staff receive an increase that will only take their wages to 24p above the National Minimum Wage.
All out
This strike is one of many within the whole Civil Service against below- inflation pay offers. There has been strike action in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Department for Transport, the Driving Standards Agency, the Highways Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency.
What is needed is to co-ordinate national PCS strikes throughout the whole Civil Service to campaign for an end to the 2% pay cap that is hitting the lowest paid in the public sector.
Many will be getting an 8% pay cut in real terms in the offers that cover the next three years. PCS needs to step up the national campaign on jobs, rights and services and show a real commitment to fighting these derisory pay offers. Further industrial action must be taken as well as uniting with other public sector workers who are also being hit by below inflation pay offers. The NUT is balloting on strike action over their pay offer and PCS still has a mandate from its members to take action. This should be co-ordinated at a national level and we should strike on the 24th April together with the Teachers.
