The government and the main Civil Service union have reached a deal over job security and protection from compulsory redundancies.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), which has more than 315,000 members in 200 departments and agencies, has signed an agreement with the Cabinet Office.
The deal sets out in detail measures to ensure staff who are declared surplus to requirements, but who wish to continue to work in the Civil Service or associated areas, will be made an alternative job offer.
The union also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. The PCS has waged a long-running campaign over the increasing privatisation and outsourcing of government services.
The PCS said it remained “implacably opposed” to privatisation and outsourcing. However, the agreement also covers national guidance on good practice for dealing with staff where their functions are outsourced or privatised.
The agreement will be put to the union’s Annual Delegate Conference in May for endorsement, and members will vote in a ballot later in the year.
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “This agreement represents a major breakthrough in improving protection from compulsory redundancy, and builds on our previous success in protecting public sector pensions.”
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