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📢 PCS MEMBERS: IMPORTANT BALLOT UPDATE
With our national ballot expected to open on 20 October, PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote answers members’ questions about our campaign for better pay, pensions, job security, and rights at work.
Watch the video and get ballot-ready
#PCS
With our national ballot expected to open on 20 October, PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote answers members’ questions about our campaign for better pay, pensions, job security, and rights at work.
Watch the video and get ballot-ready
#PCS
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🚨PCS Press Release:
MHCLG members to strike on Budget Day
PCS members across the entirety of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take strike action on Wednesday 28 October – Budget Day – as part of a long-running dispute over office closures, office attendance requirements, and changes to location and recruitment policies.
The action follows three weeks of targeted strike action by PCS members across the department during October, as workers stand up for colleagues across MHCLG and demand a fairer deal for staff.
Members have also been taking action short of strike for the past six months, as part of the branch’s campaign in support of “Our Work, Our Way”, which seeks to ensure staff have a meaningful say over where and how they work.
The dispute centres on the proposed closure of six regional offices (see locations in notes), affecting hundreds of staff. PCS members are also concerned about strict office attendance targets and changes to recruitment policies which could restrict future opportunities for staff based in regional offices and contribute to further office closures.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“PCS members have been clear that they want a fair deal and a genuine say over the decisions affecting their jobs, workplaces and futures.
“On Budget Day, they will send a clear message to MHCLG’s new leadership that their concerns cannot be ignored. The staff who keep this department running deserve to be heard.
“Our union will continue to stand with our members until MHCLG engages seriously with their concerns and works towards a fair resolution to this dispute.”
Support the Picket lines
Picket lines will be held outside offices from 8- 10am on strike day, 28 October:
Darlington – Darlington Economic Campus (DEC), Feethams House, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5BF
Hemel Hempstead – The Forum, Marlowe, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN
London –2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Leeds – 7/8 Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4AP
Wolverhampton - Wolverhampton Interchange, Railway Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LG.
#PCS
MHCLG members to strike on Budget Day
PCS members across the entirety of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take strike action on Wednesday 28 October – Budget Day – as part of a long-running dispute over office closures, office attendance requirements, and changes to location and recruitment policies.
The action follows three weeks of targeted strike action by PCS members across the department during October, as workers stand up for colleagues across MHCLG and demand a fairer deal for staff.
Members have also been taking action short of strike for the past six months, as part of the branch’s campaign in support of “Our Work, Our Way”, which seeks to ensure staff have a meaningful say over where and how they work.
The dispute centres on the proposed closure of six regional offices (see locations in notes), affecting hundreds of staff. PCS members are also concerned about strict office attendance targets and changes to recruitment policies which could restrict future opportunities for staff based in regional offices and contribute to further office closures.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“PCS members have been clear that they want a fair deal and a genuine say over the decisions affecting their jobs, workplaces and futures.
“On Budget Day, they will send a clear message to MHCLG’s new leadership that their concerns cannot be ignored. The staff who keep this department running deserve to be heard.
“Our union will continue to stand with our members until MHCLG engages seriously with their concerns and works towards a fair resolution to this dispute.”
Support the Picket lines
Picket lines will be held outside offices from 8- 10am on strike day, 28 October:
Darlington – Darlington Economic Campus (DEC), Feethams House, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5BF
Hemel Hempstead – The Forum, Marlowe, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN
London –2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Leeds – 7/8 Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4AP
Wolverhampton - Wolverhampton Interchange, Railway Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LG.
#PCS
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🚨Breaking News!
V&A Strike Suspended for Talks
PCS members at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum have called off this week's strike action.
PCS reps at the V&A have decided to suspend the planned 29 and 30 October strike to allow for ACAS-facilitated talks to take place, after the employer sent an improved offer.
They made this decision in good faith to hold talks with the museum. Should these negotiations fail to produce a deal that is acceptable to our members, however, PCS will announce further strike action.
PCS members at the V&A are determined to get the deal they deserve. And they continue to have a strong mandate for industrial action.
PCS had already entered negotiations with the V&A over the provision of water bottles and adequate seating for front of house staff at V&A Storehouse. Now, the V&A has also made an improved offer on pay.
PCS members are demanding a reasonable pay award and London Living Wage accreditation. They are also looking for heat mitigation measures, improved food offers at the East sites and a new industrial relations framework.
You can support our members by using our e-action to email your MP: action.pcs.org.uk/page/200463/ac…
#PCS
V&A Strike Suspended for Talks
PCS members at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum have called off this week's strike action.
PCS reps at the V&A have decided to suspend the planned 29 and 30 October strike to allow for ACAS-facilitated talks to take place, after the employer sent an improved offer.
They made this decision in good faith to hold talks with the museum. Should these negotiations fail to produce a deal that is acceptable to our members, however, PCS will announce further strike action.
PCS members at the V&A are determined to get the deal they deserve. And they continue to have a strong mandate for industrial action.
PCS had already entered negotiations with the V&A over the provision of water bottles and adequate seating for front of house staff at V&A Storehouse. Now, the V&A has also made an improved offer on pay.
PCS members are demanding a reasonable pay award and London Living Wage accreditation. They are also looking for heat mitigation measures, improved food offers at the East sites and a new industrial relations framework.
You can support our members by using our e-action to email your MP: action.pcs.org.uk/page/200463/ac…
#PCS
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PCS - the civil service union retweeted
Many thanks to @FranHeathcote of @pcs_union for supporting the campaign by @ucu and @UNISONinHE against derecognition of the campus trade unions by @uniofbrighton management - solidarity!
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PCS retired members’ chair Sandra Durkin spoke about the Capita pensions crisis for the Insource Now! campaign video today. She was brilliant, explaining the impact on members and why bringing services back in-house matters.
She was joined by workers from UNISON and RMT to help rcing.
The giant cheque represents £6 billion in profits for outsourcing companies from government contracts. Public money that should support services, workers, and the people who rely on them.
#InsourceNow
She was joined by workers from UNISON and RMT to help rcing.
The giant cheque represents £6 billion in profits for outsourcing companies from government contracts. Public money that should support services, workers, and the people who rely on them.
#InsourceNow
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RT @PCS_NI: Our National Campaign ballot is live!
Vote Yes/Yes on strike and action short of strike. Members in Northern Ireland will recei…
Vote Yes/Yes on strike and action short of strike. Members in Northern Ireland will recei…
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🚨Get there if you can!
Join PCS outside Parliament on Budget Day to demand action on pay and the cost-of-living crisis.
Speakers: Fran Heathcote, Bev Laidlaw (Chair), with more speakers to be announced.
According to the TUC, the average UK household has paid an extra £13,961 e 2021, including housing, energy and borrowing costs. Energy bills alone have risen by an average £2,644, while households with mortgages have paid an average £9,034 more.
After years of below-inflation pay awards, too many PCS members are still struggling to make ends meet. As the government sets out its budget plans, we're calling for fair pay, investment in public services and real support for working people.
PCS is willing to cover reasonable transport costs for members wishing to attend. Please contact campaigns@pcs.org.uk for assistance.
Bring your flags, banners and colleagues and join us in sending a clear message: workers need action, not more austerity.
Event Address
Old Palace Yard, opposite the Houses of Parliament, SW1P 3JY
#PCS
Join PCS outside Parliament on Budget Day to demand action on pay and the cost-of-living crisis.
Speakers: Fran Heathcote, Bev Laidlaw (Chair), with more speakers to be announced.
According to the TUC, the average UK household has paid an extra £13,961 e 2021, including housing, energy and borrowing costs. Energy bills alone have risen by an average £2,644, while households with mortgages have paid an average £9,034 more.
After years of below-inflation pay awards, too many PCS members are still struggling to make ends meet. As the government sets out its budget plans, we're calling for fair pay, investment in public services and real support for working people.
PCS is willing to cover reasonable transport costs for members wishing to attend. Please contact campaigns@pcs.org.uk for assistance.
Bring your flags, banners and colleagues and join us in sending a clear message: workers need action, not more austerity.
Event Address
Old Palace Yard, opposite the Houses of Parliament, SW1P 3JY
#PCS
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🚨PCS Press Release:
PCS urges Chancellor to rethink reported decision to rule out Capital Gains Tax changes
As the union representing the majority of staff at HM Revenue and Customs, PCS has written to the Chancellor urging him to reconsider reports that the Government will rule out changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the upcoming Budget.
The intervention comes as PCS continues its national campaign on pay and the cost of living, arguing that working people should not bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden while income from wealth benefits from more favourable treatment.
PCS has called for income from wealth to be taxed at the same rate as income from work. Independent tax specialists have estimated that such a change could raise around £12 billion a year for the Treasury.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“Reports that the Chancellor is ruling out changes to Capital Gains Tax would be deeply disappointing.
“PCS has long argued that our tax system must be fairer. People should not pay less tax simply because their income comes from wealth rather than work.
“At a time when working people are struggling with the cost of living and fighting for fair pay, the Government should be looking at how to make the tax system fairer, not ruling out opportunities to raise billions of pounds in revenue.
“We urge the Chancellor to keep an open mind and ensure that those who benefit most from wealth make a fair contribution. Tax justice must be part of building a fairer society for working people.”
#PCS
PCS urges Chancellor to rethink reported decision to rule out Capital Gains Tax changes
As the union representing the majority of staff at HM Revenue and Customs, PCS has written to the Chancellor urging him to reconsider reports that the Government will rule out changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the upcoming Budget.
The intervention comes as PCS continues its national campaign on pay and the cost of living, arguing that working people should not bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden while income from wealth benefits from more favourable treatment.
PCS has called for income from wealth to be taxed at the same rate as income from work. Independent tax specialists have estimated that such a change could raise around £12 billion a year for the Treasury.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“Reports that the Chancellor is ruling out changes to Capital Gains Tax would be deeply disappointing.
“PCS has long argued that our tax system must be fairer. People should not pay less tax simply because their income comes from wealth rather than work.
“At a time when working people are struggling with the cost of living and fighting for fair pay, the Government should be looking at how to make the tax system fairer, not ruling out opportunities to raise billions of pounds in revenue.
“We urge the Chancellor to keep an open mind and ensure that those who benefit most from wealth make a fair contribution. Tax justice must be part of building a fairer society for working people.”
#PCS
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PCS Live : National Ballot Launch x.com/i/broadcasts/1…
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Need a replacement ballot? Requests open on 29 October and close at 12 noon on 16 November.
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Got a question about the ballot? Read our FAQs here: pcs.org.uk/FAQ2026
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🚨PCS Press Release:
Scottish Government digital workers to ballot over £5,000 pay cut
Over 1,100 Scottish Government digital workers have lost £5,000 after the government changed the eligibility criteria for a longstanding payment, PCS has said.
Around 800 union members working in the Digital profession will now be balloted for industrial action, with the ballot running from 21 October to 4 November.
The dispute follows the Scottish Government’s decision to replace the existing Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) supplement with a new Government Digital and Data (GDD) supplement, with eligibility restricted to a smaller number of roles.
There are around 1,560 staff working in the Scottish Government’s Digital profession. Under the new arrangements, around 71% which amounts to more than 1,100 workers will have lost the supplement.
PCS says this represents a significant cut to the pay of highly skilled digital workers, with those affected losing £5,000 a year or up to 14% of their pay, depending on their grade.
Furthermore, the removal of DDaT and introduction of GDD disproportionately affects women in the profession, deepening the longstanding problems of gender segregation in the IT profession.
The supplement is not a new payment. A pay supplement for IT and digital roles has existed within the Scottish Government in one form or another since at least 1999, with eligibility consistently covering specialist and technical roles from A band through to C3.
The current DDaT supplement was negotiated and implemented in 2018 with the support of PCS and sister unions. When it was reviewed in 2022, there were no changes to eligibility or ratings, although the payment was increased from £4,000 to £5,000 for the majority of staff receiving it.
PCS says the approach taken by the Scottish Government in its 2025 review was markedly different from previous reviews. While the government carried out a detailed assessment of the digital workforce and the wider labour market, trade unions were not given seats on the review panel or directly involved in the detailed discussions about the proposals.
That review ultimately recommended ending the DDaT supplement and replacing it with the new GDD supplement, with eligibility limited to selected roles and different rates of payment.
Ruby Gibson, PCS National Officer for Scotland, said:
"This is an attack on the pay of more than 1,100 digital workers, many of whom stand to lose £5,000 a year through no fault of their own. These are skilled professionals who play a vital role in delivering public services.
"The supplement has been in place in one form or another for more than 25 years, recognising the specialist skills needed to do these jobs. The Scottish Government cannot simply strip workers of a significant part of their pay and expect them to accept it without a fight.
"PCS is particularly concerned that this decision will disproportionately affect women, deepening existing inequalities in the digital profession. It is also unacceptable that trade unions were excluded from meaningful involvement in the detailed discussions that led to these changes.
"Our members deserve fair pay, respect and a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their livelihoods. The ballot for industrial action is a direct consequence of the Scottish Government’s decision to press ahead with these cuts. We are calling on the government to urgently reconsider its approach."
#PCS
Scottish Government digital workers to ballot over £5,000 pay cut
Over 1,100 Scottish Government digital workers have lost £5,000 after the government changed the eligibility criteria for a longstanding payment, PCS has said.
Around 800 union members working in the Digital profession will now be balloted for industrial action, with the ballot running from 21 October to 4 November.
The dispute follows the Scottish Government’s decision to replace the existing Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) supplement with a new Government Digital and Data (GDD) supplement, with eligibility restricted to a smaller number of roles.
There are around 1,560 staff working in the Scottish Government’s Digital profession. Under the new arrangements, around 71% which amounts to more than 1,100 workers will have lost the supplement.
PCS says this represents a significant cut to the pay of highly skilled digital workers, with those affected losing £5,000 a year or up to 14% of their pay, depending on their grade.
Furthermore, the removal of DDaT and introduction of GDD disproportionately affects women in the profession, deepening the longstanding problems of gender segregation in the IT profession.
The supplement is not a new payment. A pay supplement for IT and digital roles has existed within the Scottish Government in one form or another since at least 1999, with eligibility consistently covering specialist and technical roles from A band through to C3.
The current DDaT supplement was negotiated and implemented in 2018 with the support of PCS and sister unions. When it was reviewed in 2022, there were no changes to eligibility or ratings, although the payment was increased from £4,000 to £5,000 for the majority of staff receiving it.
PCS says the approach taken by the Scottish Government in its 2025 review was markedly different from previous reviews. While the government carried out a detailed assessment of the digital workforce and the wider labour market, trade unions were not given seats on the review panel or directly involved in the detailed discussions about the proposals.
That review ultimately recommended ending the DDaT supplement and replacing it with the new GDD supplement, with eligibility limited to selected roles and different rates of payment.
Ruby Gibson, PCS National Officer for Scotland, said:
"This is an attack on the pay of more than 1,100 digital workers, many of whom stand to lose £5,000 a year through no fault of their own. These are skilled professionals who play a vital role in delivering public services.
"The supplement has been in place in one form or another for more than 25 years, recognising the specialist skills needed to do these jobs. The Scottish Government cannot simply strip workers of a significant part of their pay and expect them to accept it without a fight.
"PCS is particularly concerned that this decision will disproportionately affect women, deepening existing inequalities in the digital profession. It is also unacceptable that trade unions were excluded from meaningful involvement in the detailed discussions that led to these changes.
"Our members deserve fair pay, respect and a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their livelihoods. The ballot for industrial action is a direct consequence of the Scottish Government’s decision to press ahead with these cuts. We are calling on the government to urgently reconsider its approach."
#PCS
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The PCS ballot is OPEN!
Members in Nottingham are out leafleting today to get the vote going.
For better pay, pensions and working conditions, have your say. Online or by post, every vote counts!
#PCS
Members in Nottingham are out leafleting today to get the vote going.
For better pay, pensions and working conditions, have your say. Online or by post, every vote counts!
#PCS
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