Snapshot: November 2008
	2007/8 2008/9 Pay deals 58 53 Agreed 22 18 Imposed 5 3 Remit cleared 10 16 Remit not cleared 21 16 Single year 22 15 Multi year 5 6 Average award 3.63% 3.68% Pay round so far … Even though all bargaining units should have concluded a pay deal by now, because of delays in the remit process November is usually the month when the Civil Service pay round really begins to take shape. There is a very familiar pattern developing this year; a majority of pay deals are single year agreements, the largest number of bargaining units still waiting for Treasury remit clearance are NDPBs followed by Executive Agencies, and although the affordability range has increased to a maximum of 4.5% this year, the average headline increase is only narrowly higher than last year. Pay offers are currently out to ballot in a number of areas and there have been three imposed single year settlements at DEFRA, the Healthcare Commission and UKAS.   Of those bargaining units in dispute last year: A pay deal has been agreed at the Valuation Office Agency NML management have agreed a remit with the unions, which has been submitted to DCMS for clearance, Union representatives have met with the Secretary of State for DCMS to complain about the slowness of the remit process, and Union officials at Ordnance Survey are continuing to press for an increased remit to fund their new pay structure. The pay deal at Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been rejected in a members’ ballot and negotiations at the Forestry Commission have been hampered by an unhelpful Treasury intervention that rejected management’s remit and instructed them on the shape of the offer they should make.

Prospect's 'PayBack for Specialists' campaign

Prospect is running a long-term campaign to improve the pay standing of its 36,000 members who work in public services. The campaign will fight for:

• recognition for professionals at work
• adequate funding for services
• fair pay structures for specialists
• privatisation on merit, not profit
• avoidance of compulsory redundancies.

Public sector pay

Pay is the most urgent issue in our PayBack campaign, given the clampdown on civil service pay since 2006 and the prospect that the Chancellor's 2% limit will run through until 2010.

Prospect negotiates pay with 63 different civil service employers. In 2006, members in those areas received a string of pay offers around the 2% mark while RPI inflation was at 4.2% and consumer prices were at 2.7%.

On 28 February 2007, 6,000 Prospect members in the Ministry of Defence went on strike for the day after rejecting a pay offer which was then imposed on them.

At the end of January 2008, members across 14 different employers had voted to reject their 2007 pay offers. This is the highest level of rejections since civil service pay was delegated in 1994 (ie devolved from a single set of national negotiations down to individual departments).

Value for skills

Once any outstanding pay awards have been settled, the focus of our campaign will switch to winning 'value for skills': the struggle for a long-term pay system that is fair to both employers and the taxpayer, but equally to the professional workers who carry out the core functions of government.

Campaign resources

Members can download a range of campaign resources from the lists below:

• PayBack campaign resources
• Generic campaign resources.

Campaign posters

We have produced three PayBack campaign posters. Click on any of the thumbnails below to view a larger preview (which will open in a new window). You can download PDF versions from the PayBack campaign resources list beneath, or order quality printed versions from Central Services at Prospect HQ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PayBack campaign resources

Civil service pay update 08/0126/CSS/1 Publication date: 16 December 2008 This circular is to bring you up to date with the discussions on pay since Sir Gus O’Donnell's letter of 1 December circulated under 08/0121/CSS/1.

Civil service pay 08/0123/CSS/1 Publication date: 04 December 2008 Letter dated 3 December from the Cabinet Office covering the main elements of our meeting with them on 2 December

Civil service pay developments Publication date: 02 December 2008 Letter from Sir Gus O'Donnell dated 1 December 2008 confirming some flexibility in pay guidance for 2009/2010, together with Prospect's response.

PayBack, December 2008 Publication date: 01 December 2008 Contents include: urgent talks have begun between civil service unions and Cabinet Office on reforms to civil service pay structure; multi-year deals look up as inflation falls; members bite-back - comments from our survey of civil service members

Correspondence with the Treasury Publication date: 28 November 2008 An exchange of letters between the CCSU, TUC and Treasury Secretary Yvette Cooper about public sector pay.

IDS report on the government’s pay policy and progression rises Publication date: 12 September 2008 This research paper, produced for Prospect and the FDA by Incomes Data Services, examines the different ways in which progression is treated across the public sector, specifically in respect of the annual pay rises received by employees, and in the context of the current Government policy on pay rises for public sector staff. Particular attention is paid to NHS staff and school teachers in England and Wales, on the one hand, and civil servants on the other.

Prospect response to Tories' claim about civil service bonuses Publication date: 17 July 2008 Prospect has written to Shadow Treasury Chief Secretary Philip Hammond challenging his recent comments about bonus payments to civil servants

PayBack for Specialists, July 2008 Publication date: 11 July 2008 Contents include: Prospect on the brink; guess who’s not getting 2%; Your pension will pay the price; have you filled in the PayBack online survey?

Civil service pay - Prospect conference decision and public services rally on 9 June Publication date: 05 June 2008 Details of Prospect's policy on civil service pay as agreed at our civil service sector conference in May, along with details of the TUC "speak up for public services" rally and lobby of parliament on 9 June

2008 pay remit guidance: Prospect policy 08/042/CSS/1 Publication date: 08 May 2008 Prospect's response to the Treasury's pay remit guidance for the public service, including a copy of the letter we sent to the Treasury Secretary Yvette Cooper.

PayBack: feedback form after meeting MP (Members only) Publication date: 29 February 2008 If you meet your MP to raise your concerns about public sector pay, use this form to record his or her response, then send it back to Prospect. You can either print the form out and complete it by hand, or open it in Adobe Reader (we recommend version 7 or later), complete it on screen, then save it and email it to us as an attachment.

PayBack campaign logo, black and white Publication date: 11 February 2008 Use this logo on any b&w circulars or posters you produce about public sector pay issues. A colour version is also available.

PayBack campaign logo, colour (Members only) Publication date: 11 February 2008 Use this logo on any circulars or posters you produce about public sector pay issues. A black and white version is also available.

PayBack campaign poster 2: nuts to the pay crunch Publication date: 29 January 2008 The second in our series of three posters for the PayBack campaign - the 'nutcracker' poster. This is a low-resolution PDF file; good quality printed copies are available from Central Services at Prospect HQ.

PayBack campaign poster 3: take it to the top Publication date: 29 January 2008 The third in our series of three posters for the PayBack campaign. 'Take it to the top' encourages members to visit their MP or write to them This is a low-resolution PDF file; good quality printed copies are available from Central Services at Prospect HQ.

PayBack campaign poster 1: government workers Publication date: 29 January 2008 The first in our series of three posters for the PayBack campaign - the 'worker bees' poster. This is a low-resolution PDF file; good quality printed copies are available from Central Services at Prospect HQ.

PayBack for Specialists, February 2008 Issue three of Payback, our civil service pay campaign newsletter. Contents include: ‘Take it to the top’ – tell your MP; pay staff interest on late deals, unions to demand; separate pay rates for specialists, Prospect urges

Payback for Specialists, November 2007 Publication date: 23 November 2007 Issue two of Payback, our civil service pay campaign newsletter. Contents include: most savage squeeze on civil service pay in the last 30 years; specialist pay agenda; pay 2007 round-up; pay differentials; research council coherence

Cabinet Office proposals on civil service pay, conditions and other issues 07/110/CSS/1 Publication date: 23 November 2007 A letter dated 9 November from the Cabinet Office making proposals for joint arrangements to make progress on the key issues of job security, pay and conditions, and outsourcing

PayBack issue 1 Publication date: 15 March 2007 PayBack for Specialists: campaign newsletter issue 1, March 2007

General campaign resources

On the campaign trail Publication date: 30 May 2008 Prospect's guide to campaigning: planning, taking action, lobbying, winning outside support, dealing with the media, campaign kit and resources.

Meeting or writing to your MP: briefing note (Members only) Publication date: 29 February 2008 Practical guidance on how to write to your MP or meet them at their local surgery: hints and tips on letter writing; preparing for a meeting; what to do when you get there; what follow-up action you should take.

Prospect media strategy (Reps only) Practical guidelines for Prospect staff, NEC members and reps to enhance the union’s effectiveness in dealing with the media.

Prospect representative's guide 3: lobbying parliament Publication date: 01 February 2007 Government policies have a huge impact on people at work. From employment law to energy policy, every Prospect member is affected by political decisions in one way or another. If you're campaiging for a changeof policy, this guide explains how to use the parliamentary process to assist your cause.

List of Government Ministers & MPs Publication date: 08 January 2007 An abbreviated list of Government Ministers and MPs on key Select Committees (as at January 2007)

Prospect media guide (Members only) Publication date: 07 January 2008 This guide seeks to give some practical advice to Prospect reps on handling media inquiries and contacting press, radio and TV. But you should always ensure your full-time officer is alerted to any potential story involving your branch. Prospect's Communications Department is also there to assist and answer your queries.

How to lobby your MP (Members only) Publication date: 08 January 2007 Brief notes on how to lobby your MP at the House of Commons (updated January 2007)

Generic model letter to MPs (Members only) A model letter inviting your MP to meet you at the House of Commons during a parliamentary lobby