Prospect says PSC offer likely to be 'overwhelmingly' rejected

Ballot closes on Friday (23 August)

Trade union Prospect has renewed calls for increased pay offers to be made to public sector workers.

The proposal comprises 3.25 percent for the current financial year which would decrease over the following two years.

Prospect members are presently being balloted for their views on the three-year offer made by the Public Services Commission. 

Negotiations Officer Mick Hewer says early indications suggest the offer is likely to be ‘overwhelmingly’ rejected.

He's asking government’s Public Services Commission to reconsider its offer and return to the negotiating table.

Mr Hewer said: "I wish to reiterate that we have seen the UK Government accept the recommendations made by the pay review bodies and those recommendations will see above inflation pay increases for the first time in decades being applied to public sector workers across the UK. 

"What we have been offered by comparison is cuts to our members pay once the effects of inflation has been considered. 

"Additionally recent pay awards have been eroded by increases in taxation. 

"Whilst indications to date suggest an overwhelming rejection of the offer made by the PSC I would still encourage those members who have not responded to the ballot to do so.

"I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to exercise their democratic right to do so.

"I have stated previously that, as far as our members are concerned, they expect to see an increase in salaries that result in an easing of the financial pressures they face today, an inflation proof award, anything less effectively results in a pay cut on top of a further erosion of take-home pay because of the recently applied two percent increase in taxation. 

"It looks like the ballot result will reaffirm my beliefs and previous statements in effect we have been forced to waste another 6 weeks, unnecessarily, to reaffirm what we already suspected – rejection of the offer". 

The vote closes at 12pm on 23 August. 

Mr Hewer says the PSC should come back with an improved offer no later than the second week of September.