Issue 30
‘Unrest’ threat over early return
The leader of the largest union for civil servants has predicted “serious unrest” if its members have to return to work too early. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, spoke out after negotiations at Downing Street at which he saw a letter from the Cabinet Office asking all Whitehall departments how they could get people to return in August.
In a written response to the Cabinet Office, Serwotka stated: “This unnecessary and hasty push for an upscaling at workplaces has the potential to create serious industrial unrest.”
The majority of civil servants have been working from home since March.
• The PCS has launched a petition for a 10% rise in pay in 2020 for UK government workers (see link below).