On 4th October Prospect, PCS and the FDA were in the high court launching a judicial review of the government for their failure to consult unions when setting the pay remit guidance governing civil service pay.
The unions had argued that the guidance, which sets civil service pay at 1-1.5%, was drawn up without consultation with the unions and must be withdrawn. The government’s defence was that they had never intended to consult with unions.
The judgement from the court was that the unions had made a “forceful case” but they eventually found in favour of the government.
Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said:
“It is deeply disappointing that the court has not found in our favour- but what our legal challenge has flushed out is both revelatory and deeply damaging to the Cabinet Office.
“Whatever the result of the Judicial Review- we are not going away and will continue to argue for a fair deal for our members.”
Garry's email to civil service members can be found here: https://prospecttradeunion.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/d/9A408F8BAC32BA922540EF23F30FEDED