PR 244: POA CONDEMN SHORT-SIGHTED GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

The POA has condemned the Government for announcing that only a select group of Civil Servants will receive a one off £1500 cost of living payment in addition to any pay award for 2023/24.

The Government have declared that Staff in scope of the announcement are those covered by this year’s Civil Service pay remit guidance (all non-SCS staff working in MoJ HQ, HMCTS, LAA, OPG, CICA), and non-SCS staff in the Probation Service.

The announcement precludes Operational and Non Operational Prison staff who are subject to a Pay Review Body.

The Union that represents Prison Officers, Operational Support Grades and a host of other Prison Workers have criticised the announcement.

National Chair Mark Fairhurst stated:

“This Government class us as Civil Servants when it suits them in relation to our ridiculous retirement age of 68 but fails to recognise us for the work we do in omitting us from this cost of living payment. We now have to wait to see if our Pay Review Body will insist upon parity for all Civil Servants and recommend a similar payment for our remit group. This is grossly unfair and if it is not rectified, we will not hesitate to react in a way our membership expect.”

Steve Gillan General Secretary of the POA stated:

“Whilst we come under the remit of the Pay Review Body and not the Civil Service pay remit guidance, whenever there has been changes for Civil Servants, such as pension changes, recruitment freezes, pay freezes and all other terms and conditions we are included. However, when it comes to a one off payment suddenly, we are excluded. I have written to the Pay Review Body requesting they now take this new evidence on board as they have already made their recommendations to Government prior to this announcement.”

 

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For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                                  020 8803 0255 Option 7