PCS members in FCDO to strike over compulsory redundancy threat

PCS members working for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will take four and a half days of strike action this month (see notes below) after senior management failed to provide assurances that staff will be protected from compulsory redundancies as part of a major restructuring programme.

The strike action follows the department’s failure to provide the assurances PCS has repeatedly sought to protect jobs and ensure staff are treated fairly throughout the restructure.
PCS has called for a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, meaningful consultation with trade unions, updated equality impact assessments, and full compliance with agreed civil service redundancy procedures.

Despite repeated attempts by the union to resolve the dispute, FCDO management has rejected proposals aimed at avoiding compulsory redundancies and has failed to provide vital information, including details on staffing levels, vacancies and the number of employees who remain at risk.

PCS says the lack of transparency has left members with no confidence that the process is being managed fairly or that all possible steps are being taken to protect jobs.

Following talks with the permanent under-secretary and senior HR officials on 7 July, PCS concluded that the department was unwilling to give the necessary commitments and has served notice of industrial action.

PCS general secretary, Fran Heathcote said:

Strike action is always a last resort, but FCDO management has left our members with no choice. It is unacceptable that a government department is pushing ahead with a major restructure while refusing to give workers the basic assurance that they will not be forced out of their jobs.

Our members deserve transparency, fairness and respect. Instead, they have been met with uncertainty and a refusal to provide the information needed to properly scrutinise these plans.

The department could end this dispute today by doing the right thing: rule out compulsory redundancies and engage meaningfully with PCS.