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The Civil Service Executive Committee has given consideration to the content of the NICS Pay Claim for 2019-20. This is against the backdrop of the imposed/disputed pay imposition for 2018-19 of 1.25%. Members are also aware as part of the current industrial action on pay, terms and conditions NIPSA is demanding the re-opening of the 2018-19 pay negotiations.
The Civil Service Executive Committee now wish to consult on the key elements of the 2019-20 pay claim as follows:
An above inflation pay increase on both pay and allowances
- Pay restoration to address pay loss since 2010 and
- Further scale shortening for all scales from AA to Grade 6
The Civil Service Executive Committee believe we must seek a substantial above inflation increase in rates of pay and seek an additional amount to address the loss of pay since 2010 (i.e. pay restoration).
Projected rates of inflation for 2019-20 are circa 2%, however with Brexit looming it is unclear what this would mean for the UK economy as a whole and more importantly for Northern Ireland.
Members continue to report that they are continuing to struggle to make ends meet with the rising costs of household bills including gas, electricity, rent, mortgages and rates increasing at a much higher rate than a 1.25% pay increase.
With Brexit (with or without a deal) appearing to be forced through the implications of this will be grave for all workers and the potential impact on the economy.
Members at all levels deserve a decent pay increase – which is fair. It is not fair (as Department of Finance put out in the media) that some members have to:
- Rely on family and friends
- Rely on pay day loans and credit cards
to make ends meet and cannot afford family ‘treats’ such as a trip over the summer or a summer holiday.
It is clear we must continue with the message that “I am worth it”. Members do not believe they are valued and this was demonstrated in the last staff survey. The Civil Service Group Executive Committee are giving a clear message that our members are worth a decent pay increase and we will continue the fight to ensure that this is delivered. No longer can our members have meagre pay increases imposed – they all deserve much more. The Civil Service Executive Committee are committed to engaging not just on the pay claim but on a strategy to drive home a decent increase for all members.
Pay Restoration
Since 2010 members have received either a zero % increase or a below inflation increase. This year’s pay claim strives to address the pay losses members have borne over the last 9 years.
When the Tory Prime Minister (Theresa May) said at the Tory Party Conference in September 2018 that austerity was over – well austerity is not over for NI Civil Servants. In the last two weeks Theresa May’s last statement concluded there would be more money for public servants including police, soldiers, teachers and other school staff and senior civil servants. No mention for civil servants other than SCS. This does not bode well for civil servants in Great Britain or the NI Civil Service. Again it appears that it is believed civil servants are not worth a decent pay increase.
Public Sector Pay Policy
Last year the Department of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Sue Gray set the NI Public Sector Pay Policy without any consultation with NIPSA or the wider Trade Union Movement. NIC-ICTU have requested a meeting with Ms Gray and that meeting will take place in early September.
Continuing Campaign
NIPSA’s Civil Service Executive Committee are committed to continue the campaign including the ongoing industrial action strategy to seek to deliver a real and meaningful increase for all civil servants. The 2019-20 claim will be supported by members engaging in the industrial action in support of your pay, terms and conditions.
Next Steps
It is now vitally important that every Branch holds a branch consultation meeting to consider the draft NIPSA claim set out in this bulletin. A speaker for your branch meeting can be organised by contacting either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. In the past not all branches have had a branch meeting. The Civil Service Executive Committee is strongly recommending that all branches have a branch meeting with a speaker to discuss not just the claim but a strategy to deliver a positive outcome for members.
In order to ensure that all members and branches have the opportunity to respond to the consultation and in recognition that we are in the summer period the consultation will run until 2 pm on 6 September 2019. The Civil Service Executive Committee will meet on Monday 9 September 2019 to consider the consultation responses. Please now make arrangements for your branch consultation meeting.
Alison Millar
General Secretary
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As members are aware NIPSA lodged a Judicial Review on the lack of consultation on the SO/DP Competition and the breach of the Central Whitley Constitution and the NICS Staff Handbook. Our lawyers have now advised that the JR Judge has granted leave for the JR on the basis of the papers without the requirement for a hearing. The proposed listing will be in October 2019 with a preliminary hearing listing on 6 September 2019.
Action Short of Strike Action: NIPSA has become aware that in at least some Departments they are seeking volunteers at SO and DP level who would participate in familiarisation sessions with the new SO/DP recruits.
This is a further insult to members. In line with our action short of strike action commencing on 29 July 2019 NIPSA would advise members that they should NOT volunteer for these familiarisation sessions.
Alison Millar
General Secretary
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- Over the last 10 years your pay has been eroded by between 15% and 20%;
- Your promotion opportunities have been cut by the externalisation of the SO and DP competition and there is more of the same to come;
- Many civil servants now rely on second jobs and working tax credits to make ends meet;
- The majority of civil servants earn below the NI average wage and 66% earn less than the UK average wage;
- You are being asked to take on more line management responsibility for sick absence management, grievance and discipline.
If we don’t fight back now it will become even worse
Of course, civil servants like other workers cannot afford to strike but the money lost in a strike day is nothing compared to what we will all lose if we don’t make a stand now.
No one wants to be on strike but every worker who crosses a picket line weakens our action and strengthens the employer for further attacks on our terms and conditions.
Remember NIPSA members voted by 68.5% for strike action. We would ask you to recognise the democratic mandate.
Click the link below to download pdf to print or share or share this link Join the Action leaflet
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- Civil Servants, like other workers, have been affected by austerity and have suffered wage cuts of between 15% and 20% over the last decade;
- The majority of Civil Servants now earn below the NI average wage and rely on second jobs and tax credits just to make ends meet;
- Things are so bad that management had to take special measures just to ensure the lowest paid civil servants stay above the legal minimum wage;
- More money in workers’ pockets means more money in our community.
- Civil service workers have decided that enough is enough and have voted by 68.5% to take action.
Click the link below to download pdf to print or share or share this link Civil Servants are Just Like You Leaflet
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I am a part-time EO1. I went part-time on return from my last maternity leave, to avoid paying for childcare but, now that they're older, I have been unable to increase my hours in a suitable location. Most of the clothes I buy for myself and my children are second-hand and most of my furniture is from charity shops. I can barely afford a hair cut, never mind a social life. I never go for pub lunches with colleagues, as I don't have enough spare cash. My house needs significant repair work and I can't afford that. It's years since my current account was in the black and I owe more than a year's salary in overdraft, loans and credit card debt, with no realistic expectation of ever getting out of spiralling debt. My husband is an EOII equivalent grade and without him working a ridiculous amount of overtime, we would struggle just to pay utility bills and buy food, but we still can't afford a holiday. The whole situation is depressing.
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I'm a full time EO1, I'm a single mum with a one year old child. Because I am over the threshold I get no support from child tax credits etc. So my mum who is in her 70s is having to look after my child while I work. If I didn't have this option I would be forced out of a job. If I were to reduce my hours to 18 a week, I would be around £200 a month worse off, which sounds like nothing but is completely unaffordable, its what I try to budget for our shopping each month.
There is no extra money for luxuries, even getting my hair cut or a night out is a struggle. I dread what it is going to be like what my child is up a bit and needs more things. Despite that fact that I am in a "good job" I have had to come to terms with the fact that we are a low income house on 1 wage and life is very tight for us. I work hard in a job with a lot of responsibility to provide for my child but he will probably never have anything other than supermarket or ebay clothes and will likely never know what it's like to have a holiday abroad.
