UK Government Begins Talks with Civil Service Unions on Pay Increase

The UK government has started talks with civil service unions on pay, as the unions believe the government may finally be willing to offer more money to match rises given to health and teaching staff.

The talks are taking place due to the unions' suspension of strike action and ballots.

The PCS, the biggest civil service union with more than 100,000 members, also confirmed it had received the offer of talks and would be attending.

The FDA, which represents senior civil servants, and Prospect, which represents technical and specialist staff such as government scientists, have also agreed to enter the talks in good faith.

The unions were involved in talks earlier in the spring but were blindsided by a pay offer that was substantially less generous than for other public sector workers in May.

The deal imposed an average pay rise of between 4.5% and 5%, without any lump sum cost of living payment.