Two civil service unions announced a potential breakthrough in their pay disputes with the government, with one organization calling off a planned strike and the second halting a strike vote.
Prospect, which represents tens of thousands of public officials, including members in technical, managerial and scientific roles, has stopped a strike scheduled for next month in their dispute over wages and conditions.
The FDA, which represents senior public officials, suspended a vote by its members that was due to begin next Tuesday.
Both unions reported that the government had extended new invitations for talks in separate announcements on Friday.
A third union representing civil servants, the Public and Commercial Services Union, told the Financial Times it also “expected to have meaningful talks next week” with the government.
PCS carried out its third national strike in April over wages, pensions and jobs. It has recently renewed its six-month term to take further action, but has no nationwide strikes planned.
However, on Friday, the union announced strike dates for workers at vehicle and driver licensing agencies in Swansea, involving 15 consecutive days of industrial action from June 11.
It comes after unions expressed anger when earlier talks resulted in an average wage offer of around 4.5 percent, substantially lower than for other public sector workers. The UK has faced six months of widespread strikes as workers opposed wage cuts in real terms in an era of skyrocketing inflation.
Commenting on Prospect’s decision to call off its strike on June 7, Mike Clancy, its general secretary, said: “We have agreed to pause our planned strike because the government has communicated its willingness to engage in meaningful talks.
“Throughout this dispute, we have made it clear that our members should not be treated worse than other public sector workers and that they deserve a wage agreement that recognizes the cost of living crisis that began last year.”
He said Prospect had called off the strike to enter the talks “in good faith” but warned: “We will stand by our action short of a strike and will review that position in light of the promised talks.”
Meanwhile, the FDA reversed a decision to vote for a national industrial action on wages, which would have been the union’s first such vote in 40 years.
Dave PenmanFDA secretary general said the threat of industrial action was “intended to send a clear message” that the government had “failed to demonstrate that it valued the civil service equally with the rest of the public sector.”
He said the invitation to the talks “may indicate that the government intends to change its approach to paying this year” but added: “If not, then the union is ready to proceed with the vote for industrial action that we have prepared. for.”
The Cabinet Office said the government has “maintained an open dialogue with the unions”, adding: “We have met with the respective unions to understand what role the Cabinet Office can play in resolving their concerns and avoiding industrial action whenever that it’s possible.”