Pensions Regulator (PCS) Strike Calendar

The strike action which was due to restart today and continue into next week has been suspended as a result of TPR agreeing to enter into meaningful negotiations with PCS over the proposals we have made to end the dispute.

Importantly TPR has agreed with the key proposal that they commit to securing the funding for the full percentage pay increase to the overall pay pot suggested by the 2024/25 Treasury Pay Remit Guidance. The have stated that they are already engaging with DWP on the pay strategy for the year ahead. They have also committed to submitting a pay flexibility case for the Pay Remit Guidance in 2024/25 which will guarantee additional money to the basic pay remit pot.

Due to the continued intransigence of The Pensions Regulator, their imposition of a 3% pay settlement and their refusal to engage further with PCS to resolve the dispute we have notified management that members will take an additional 12 days of action.

Members are angry because TPR is only offering a pay rise of 3% while other civil service employers are paying a minimum of 4.5%, with an additional 0.5% of the overall pay pot to be targeted at the worst-paid staff. One member’s pay has only risen by 7% since 2014, when “council tax has gone up by 32%, my gas and electricity by 174% and my train fare by 40%”.

Members in TPR took 2 weeks' strike action in September and have started another period of 4 weeks of strike action today as a result of the employer’s refusal to pay 4.5% with an extra 0.5% to be directed at the lowest paid which every other civil service employer has paid so far.

PCS went into the ACAS talks yesterday (10) in good faith looking to persuade TPR to pay some of the £1.5million bonus pot as proper pay to achieve parity with other civil service employers. Members working for TPR are furious that the bonus pot rewards the highest paid so much more than the lowest paid. In TPR if you are already very well paid you have a much greater chance of getting a bonus, and if you do, your bonus will be much bigger than your lower-paid colleagues.

Despite the best efforts of the negotiating team PCS was unable to persuade an intransigent TPR to find any more money or reallocate any of their bonus pot help to resolve the dispute.

PCS members working for The Pensions Regulator took strike action between 5 and 18 September in pursuit of our national campaign demands. Their employer has failed to pay staff the full monies available government’s increased pay remit of 4.5-5%. The revised remit – plus a one-off £1,500 cost-of-living payment – was won by PCS after a six-month campaign that saw three national strikes.

PCS has had four meetings with TPR management, but they have refused to concede anything and have doubled down on their original position of not meeting the terms of the civil service pay remit guidance.

• PCS members working for The Pensions Regular (TPR) in Brighton will take strike action from 5-18 September.
• The strike action is in response to a 3% pay rise offer.
• A national campaign of industrial action has already forced concessions from the government.
• The government made an improved pay offer to all civil service and related areas.
• However, TPR staff are only being offered a 3% increase in the pay bill.
• PCS has paused targeted strike action to engage in pay talks with individual departments.
• If employers fail to make good on concessions gained, further targeted action will be called.