Civil servants have threatened to strike unless they are given a four-day week and a 10% pay rise. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will launch a vote for industrial action from October 20 over pay and conditions for its members. This will include “progress towards a four-day working week with no loss of pay”.
Political backlash
Mike Wood, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “Taxpayers’ money should not be wasted on this. But it is no surprise that unions feel emboldened to take this action, having been empowered by Labour’s Employment Rights Act.
“Labour ministers must make clear that they do not support a four-day week on full pay for civil servants and stand firm against any strike action.”
Former local government secretary Steve Reed previously ruled out a four-day week for public servants. But the PCS said evidence showing the economic and social benefits of a four-day week was growing “ever more convincing”.
Two models for a shorter week
There are two ways the four-day working week can operate. The first is when the hours worked in a five-day week are compressed into a four-day week, meaning longer working days. The second approach involves working fewer hours than the traditional five-day week but with no reduction in employee pay.
William Yarwood, campaigns director at the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “The four-day week is a grift pushed by special interests that would leave hard-working taxpayers paying full price for fewer hours and worse services.
“Ministers should kill this idea stone dead and demand proper productivity from the public sector.”
Ballot rules and union response
The PCS will need at least half of its members to vote, with a majority of these voting for the proposed strikes. Angela Rayner last year made it easier for civil servants to strike by removing a requirement that at least 40% of the total workforce voted for action through the Employment Rights Act.
The PCS’ Dan Durcan said: “Civil servants have a responsibility to be objective. The evidence about the economic and social benefits of a four-day week grows ever more convincing.
“PCS members will soon vote on taking industrial action on a four-day week. This could result in one of the most significant changes to working life in the UK in over a century.”
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “The Government is committed to recognising the hard work of civil servants, while ensuring public sector pay remains sustainable.
“Discussions will continue with Civil Service unions, including PCS, as part of departments’ ongoing engagement.”
