Prospect responds to Foreign Office admission of being worst paid department

Prospect is calling for the government to withdraw civil service pay guidance or face legal action

Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said in response to the Foreign Office admitting it is the worst government department for pay:

“This admission from the Foreign Office is yet more evidence that years of crippling civil service pay restraint are catching up with the government and undermining the effectiveness of departments and agencies.

“Civil servants are extremely dedicated to their work, but they have been left at the back of the queue again on pay and that has consequences for morale and for the recruitment and retention of skilled staff.

“The Foreign Office have warned the situation is unsustainable and if the new Foreign Secretary is serious about promoting ‘Global Britain’ and expanding our global influence then his top priority should be making sure his department and embassies can pay to hire and hold on to the best staff.

“Government must withdraw the insulting civil service pay guidance and engage in serious discussion with the unions, otherwise we are clear that we are prepared to go to court to fight for a fair deal for civil servants.”

Earlier this week Prospect along with the FDA and PCS wrote to the Cabinet Office asking for the civil service pay guidance to be withdrawn or face a judicial review of the policy.