Members have asked me to clarify the reason that the strike scheduled for today has been called off. Essentially, PCS asked the government to engage in constructive talks over pay in order to avoid strike action. At the eleventh hour, Sir Gus O'Donnell agreed to the unions demand and hence the strike is suspended pending talks for 28 days whilst talks can take place. The following has been circulated to all branchs and published on the PCS website (further information will be published as it comes available) .The following message is on the PCS website:
PCS suspends national industrial action
The PCS national executive committee met this morning and following their receipt of a letter from Sir Gus O'Donnell, head of the home civil service, have decided to suspend the industrial action planned from Monday 10 November and the overtime ban proposed to commence on Tuesday 11 November.
Further information will be issued on Monday via the website.
The letter from the Head of the Civil Service follows
Mark Serwotka, general secretary
7 November 2008,
Mark,
Following the constructive discussions between yourselves and my officials, I am writing to confirm that I am prepared to agree, pursuant to Section 234(1) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, to a 28 day extension to the limitation of your current mandate for initiating industrial action. This will extend the period of validity to midnight on 11 December 2008, allowing your colleagues and officials to take forward discussions to address the concerns that form the basis of your current dispute.
Sir Gus O'Donnell, KCB
Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/ministry_of_defence_group/ministry_of_defence_group.cfm
