Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise

Latest NewsEconomics, government & business

PCS union warns reference to public service reform in Queen’s speech must not signify job cuts

by Mike Berry 16 Nov 2006
by Mike Berry 16 Nov 2006

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has warned that public service reform outlined in the Queen’s speech  must not be code for privatisation and job losses.

The PCS is the largest civil service trade union, representing more than 250,000 workers.

On welfare reform, the union warned that job cuts in the Department for Work and Pensions had already led to deterioration in services. It also questioned the capacity and ability of the private and third sectors to deliver changes in welfare reform.

The union also warned that the commitment to continue cutting a third of Child Support Agency staff in the run up to the creation of the new organisation will only add to the backlogs and frustration the public is already experiencing.

On pensions, the union called for any future personal pension accounts system to be run by the public sector. The Pensions Bill said a “delivery authority” would be set up to oversee the personal accounts system.

The PCS criticised plans to push ahead with ID cards, pointing to recent high-profile government IT disasters when contracts were handed to the private sector. 

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “The restated commitment to public service reform in the Queen’s speech must not be code for unbridled privatisation and job losses.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Already we are seeing the damage of job cuts and privatisation, with benefit waiting times up and massive IT failures.

“If the government is to fulfil its ambitions in implementing the Bills laid out today, then it has to recognise that it needs the staff with the resources to deliver publicly run public services.”

Mike Berry

previous post
Universities funding body eyes employee training with £12m skills projects
next post
Transatlantic Olympic gold-medal rower James Cracknell reveals hidden depths explaining importance of mental strength to Personnel Today HR Directors Club briefing

You may also like

Free childcare expansion beset with recruitment challenges

1 Sep 2025

Business confidence grows to post-Budget peak

1 Sep 2025

Warship deal with Norway secures 4,000 jobs

1 Sep 2025

Decision to sack man for Michael Jackson noises...

29 Aug 2025

P&O Ferries boss who steered 800 sackings steps...

29 Aug 2025

UK large companies’ succession planning is weak –...

29 Aug 2025

Gender bonus bias widens pay gap, says Brightmine

29 Aug 2025

Bankers learn of redundancy in email gaffe asking...

29 Aug 2025

Cabin crew manager with ‘flirty banter’ loses discrimination...

29 Aug 2025

Council clerk sacked after trying to ensure his...

29 Aug 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise