Prospect and FDA push for reform of “broken beyond repair” Civil Service pay system

Prospect and the FDA have called for reform of the Civil Service pay system, describing it as “broken beyond repair”.

In a letter sent to Minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin MP, Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy and FDA General Secretary Dave Penman say:

“The last few months have… shown beyond doubt that the current Civil Service pay system is broken beyond repair.”

They go on to say:

“The Civil Service pay structures have remained largely unreformed for three decades. The remit process not only prevents individual employers developing a strategic approach to their pay and reward, but it also prevents any sort of strategic approach at the centre and is actively hindering other workforce strategies you want to progress for the whole of the Civil Service.”

The letter further says:

“We want to see a pay structure that rewards talent, knowledge and expertise so that the Civil Service can recruit and retain skilled staff that can address the major challenges faced by our vital public services.”

In the letter, the two general secretaries request an urgent meeting with the Minister.

Earlier this year, Prospect’s members in the Civil Service undertook the largest industrial action in a decade, and the FDA announced its first national industrial action ballot on pay in 40 years. The action came after the government published its pay remit guidance for 2023/24, without meaningful consultation with the unions and offering no additional payment for 2022/23.

These industrial disputes were resolved after securing an improved offer from the government, but both unions set out the need to rebuild the Civil Service so that it properly recognises and rewards the skills and experience of its workforce after a decade of pay decline.