Civil Service: National Pay Bargaining Units

Mary Glindon (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) (Lab) and Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Ind) both asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, whether the government plans to take steps to consolidate the number of national pay bargaining units in the civil service. In his response, Pat McFadden stated that he had met with civil service unions the previous day, along with the new Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, Georgia Gould. He made it clear that the days of government ministers waging "culture wars" against civil servants are over, and that the government wants a civil service that is motivated, valued, and helps the government deliver its priorities. On the specific issue of pay, McFadden said the government will have more to say on civil service pay before the summer recess. Mary Glindon followed up, noting that in 14 years, the Conservative government had done nothing to address the "ludicrous situation" of over 200 pay bargaining units for civil servants across government departments and agencies, which she described as a highly time-consuming and inefficient process that generates unfair pay disparities. Glindon asked the minister to look again at whether pay bargaining can be consolidated across the civil service and to agree to meet with the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss the advantages of such reforms. In response, McFadden acknowledged the need to properly and fairly reward public servants, while balancing this against other priorities and being fair to taxpayers. He stated that he had met with the general secretary of the PCS, as well as other civil service unions, the previous day, and hoped for a fruitful dialogue with them. McFadden also noted that departments have flexibility on pay and can direct it towards the needs of their own workforces. Jeremy Corbyn then asked the minister to assure the House that he will make progress towards a return to full sectoral bargaining, noting that many thousands of civil servants are not covered by a pay review body or any other bargaining mechanism. Corbyn urged the minister to take steps to ensure that all civil servants are brought within the purview of a pay review body bargaining unit as part of a return to sectoral bargaining. McFadden responded by thanking Corbyn for his question and expressing hope for a good and fruitful dialogue with the civil service unions on pay and other issues. He reiterated that the government will have more to say on civil service pay before the summer recess.