Fiscals vote for strike but suspend action - 19 December 2007

Scotland's prosecutors have voted overwhelming for industrial action, but the action scheduled to begin with a strike on 3 January has been suspended following last minute negotiations between the FDA and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). The FDA is the union representing prosecutors in the COPFS.

More than four-fifths of the votes cast by Fiscals balloted by the FDA were for a strike and for a subsequent work to rule which would have significantly disrupted Scotland's courts. Intensive negotiations throughout recent days resulted in an initial agreement to delay industrial action being accepted last night by the FDA's PFS Section Council.

Jim Caldwell, the FDA's Scottish Secretary and lead negotiator for the COPFS members, said:
"There is no doubt about the strength of feeling amongst our members about career prospects and the failure by the COPFS to reward its lawyers commensurately with those employed within the wider Scottish Government. We have been in talks for many months and the anger of members at the failure to make sufficient progress led to our strike ballot. However, what we want is agreement and a fair resolution to the concerns we have been raising over a number of years.

"We are therefore pleased that we have been able to hammer out an agreement for an intensive process of work over the coming weeks. Hopefully, this will lead to a business case being presented to Ministers in February 2008 that will define a new pay and career structure to take forward the COPFS in the face of the rapidly changing criminal justice landscape in Scotland. Our regret is that it taken the threat of strike action to get here.

"We have suspended the action in line with the legislation, but action could still take place if the COPFS management team fails to deliver a solution, but I hope that this will not be necessary. Our members are dedicated professionals who take very seriously their key role in Scotland's criminal justice system. All we are seeking is a pay and career structure that recognises the contribution that they make."

Notes for Editors
1.The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the UK's senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.
2. Members in HMRC are represented by the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC), a section of the FDA.
3.The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union".
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