Prospect proposes agenda for change in the civil service

Prospect has written to Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, describing ways to reform the operation of the civil service with the aim of creating better industrial relations, fairer pay structures and enhancing productivity.

 

The letter from General Secretary Mike Clancy follows a positive meeting with the new government, it says:

“Prospect wants to create a new agenda for the civil service. This agenda will repair the damage occasioned by the previous administration, build a long-term partnership and enable the civil service to better respond to the needs of the country.”

It highlights several priorities for Prospect members:

• The creation of a national civil service partnership and consultation forum and framework addressing the long-term cross cutting issues, including efficiency, reform and the impact of new technology on job and organisational design, facing government and its staff.
• A fundamental review of pay and reward for the future. This is both in terms of structural reform but also substance with regards to funding.
• Cross-civil service pay frameworks for specialist professions. This would prioritise necessary flexibility to address recruitment and retention problems and create the ability to progress through pay range on basis of experience and skills.
• Monitoring, planning and developing civil service skills and capabilities that are needed to deliver over the medium and longer term.
• Conducting an equal pay audit across the civil service.
• Exemplifying wider Government ambitions for worker voice and partnership working by setting high standards for trade union access and recognition, with civil service employers.

The letter argues the current system is not working:

“Many Prospect members in the civil service have private sector comparators. The labour markets for these and other skills crucial to the delivery of government missions are varied and complex. The current pay remit and associated processes do not allow government to successfully compete, recruit and retain.”

The letter points to the creation of independent pay review bodies for delegated grades as one option, but suggests other possibilities identified by research commissioned by Prospect. These are aimed specifically at roles critical to the delivery of the Government’s missions particularly in STEM.

The letter says:

“The effect of civil service pay policies on departments and agencies that are highly dependent on recruiting and retaining STEM skills has been damaging and perverse, undermining value-for-money and impeding effective workforce reform.”

Prospect hopes to see prompt engagement on these issues from the government and stands ready to work with ministers to create a modern Civil Service focussed on delivery.