PCS national ballot over ‘disgraceful’ pay offer

PCS demonstration during previous national strike (Picture: Guy Smallman)

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), PCS union members are holding a national ballot following an insulting pay offer. 

Originally due to open on 5 January, the ballot was delayed following a legal challenge from the DWP, using Tory anti-union laws. 

Labour’s pay offer was just 3.25 percent, with 0.5 percent being offered for flexibility to provide for the lowest paid workers. It came into effect in July 2025, but Steve, a DWP worker in Edinburgh, slammed the deal as an “absolute disgrace”.

“It fails to address the chronic low pay in the department,” he told Socialist Worker.

“For the fourth successive year, when we get to April 2026, if the pay remains the way it is then the national living wage is going to overtake the pay of two grades of our workers.

“PCS has pressed the DWP to use that 0.5 percent flexibility to make pay raises for our lowest paid workers.

“Instead, the DWP is fixing issues for the senior grades. But that means that most of our members are remaining stuck at the bottom of the ladder.”

Steve said there is a “clear case” for the department to make a request for extra funding to increase pay, but the DWP refuses. 

“Other government departments have submitted cases every year. The department of education and customs and revenues have both won pay raises. They’re all higher than the DWP,” he explained.

Pay issues are creating a cycle of recruitment and retention issues. Steve said that “job centres have a shortage of at least 2,000 work coaches—we need more staff”.

“But the employer won’t recruit more. And in the past, when they have tried to recruit, they have trouble getting people to apply because of the level of pay.”

Unemployment has reached its highest in ten years. Steve explained that “it’s our task to help people get people back to work. But there’s anger from our members over our own working conditions. 

“I think it’s important to say that we have a Labour government now. Pay cut after pay cut wasn’t surprising under the Tories, but a lot of people expected something different under Starmer and that’s not happening. 

“It’s actually getting worse.”

Steve added that “it’s important that we look to other groups of workers who are struggling as well. It’s encouraging to see the resident doctors so strong in fighting for their pay.

“Health care assistants and education workers have won a series of disputes across the country. We’ve had examples of big wins.”

DWP workers should look to follow suit and vote for strikes. The ballot opens on 19 January and will close on 16 February.