A Pay Update from MoD Group

Ministry of Defence

To: All Members
MoD GEC
MoD/MB/57/08

26th November 2008


Dear Colleagues,

MoD Pay - Update Number 5

Members may have seen the Civilian Pay Update that has recently been issued by MoD.

The text of this statement, which has been agreed with PCS, states "Informal pay talks with the Non Industrial Trade Unions continue. Management propose to put a formal offer to the unions very shortly with the aim of the pay award being in pay packets early next year. In parallel, talks are being held at national level following the suspension of the PCS civil service-wide action. The pay award will not be further delayed because of the national talks but any changes required to the award as a result of the national negotiations will be considered and if agreed put in place afterwards."

Members will wish to note that the PCS talks with the Treasury and the Cabinet Office are ongoing; we do not know yet whether an agreement is possible. A special meeting of the PCS national executive committee (NEC) had been planned for Thursday 27 November. This will now take place on Monday 1 December. This is to allow the talks to be completed.

Every effort is being made to progress the talks to a successful conclusion. But we do not yet know whether an agreement will be reached. Therefore, members must stand ready to take industrial action and retain strike and other campaign materials in case they are needed.

We must also continue to make our case for fair pay to employers, politicians and the public.

In MoD we have made clear to management that we will require a clause in the pay offer that re-opens the talks if there is something tangible from the national talks. We will however continue to talk to MoD management on pay and to make progress with the Department to ensure that the 2008 pay award is paid to PCS members as quickly as possible. There will be an emergency meeting of the PCS MoD group executive committee (GEC) as soon as we receive a formal offer and further information on this offer will be circulated to members as soon as possible.

A further update on pay will be issued to members next week.

Yours sincerely



Paul Barnsley
Group Secretary