Strike Days Announced

Two further days of industrial action have been announced after further talks with management about the imposed pay offer broke down. On the 17th and 18th March PCS members across DWP will refuse to go to work to show their outrage at this frankly scandalous pay offer.

For many long serving staff this pay imposition equates to a mere 1% per year for the next three years. With the Retail Price Index showing that the cost of living has increased to above 4% the truth is that all we have been offered is a year on year pay cut.

Some members feel that we should have gone ahead with the proposed strike on 31st January. However if PCS had refused to enter into further discussions with the Treasury, it would look as if we were not serious about trying to reach an agreement. Since management failed to offer anything new during these talks it is now obvious which side really wanted to make these talks work.

Other members feel that we should be taking any strike action at all. Members know that by taking part in a strike that they will suffer financially at the end of the month. But failiure to fight this pay cut in real terms, would be resigning youself and your colleagues to suffering financially every month for the next three years. And for anyone approaching retirement in the next few years this pay cut will affect their pension forever.

The unions strength lies in its' membership. Managers at local and national level discuss and negotiate with PCS officials because they represent three quarters of their workforce. Non members, even those who boast about crossing picket lines, often turn to reps for help or advice when they have a problem themselves. Why? Because they know that the union does have influence.

Every single member has influence. The decision made by every single member on 17th and 18th March is crucial. Everyone who crosses the picketline is saying that they are happy to do more and more work for less money. They are saying that the announced 12,000 jobs loses in the next three years is ok with them.

I have been asked if I think we can win this fight. Honestly, I believe we can. We can if you the members are prepared to fight. But if we chose not to fight, then we have already lost.