FDA pauses industrial action ballot following breakthrough in industrial dispute

May 26, 2023

The FDA’s Executive Committee has today agreed to suspend the union’s ballot on industrial action over pay, which was due to start on Tuesday 30 May, following a formal invitation from government to enter talks to discuss the issues behind the dispute.

Welcoming the decision to open talks, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman said:

“The decision to ballot for national industrial action over pay was taken by the FDA for the first time in 40 years. It was intended to send a clear message to the government that enough was enough, as they had failed to demonstrate that they valued the civil service equally with the rest of the public sector. The invitation to talks is the first indication that this message has been heard.

“Industrial action is never an end in itself, it is a means to an end. All we have asked is for the civil service to be treated fairly and with respect – the approach to pay in 2023 was one way of demonstrating this.

“The invitation to talks may indicate that the government intends to change its approach to pay for this year and we must make every effort to ensure that whatever opportunities this provides, we try to deliver the best possible outcome for our members. If it does not, then the union stands ready to proceed with the ballot for industrial action that we have prepared for.”

This invitation to talks follows the FDA issuing formal statutory notices of our intention to ballot in 46 employers across the civil service on Tuesday 23 May.

Pay