Union action on Procurator Fiscal pay - 17 October 2003

Procurators fiscal are being recommended to reject their latest pay offer by their union, the FDA said today.

Dave Penman, head of operations at the FDA, said: "We are recommending that our members reject the latest pay offer from the Procurator Fiscal Service (PFS) which we believe is clearly inadequate. The FDA has worked in partnership with the PFS over the past two years and between us we have made tremendous progress in re-organising the Service and ensuring that the PFS meets Scotland's needs for an efficient and responsive prosecution service to enhance the work of the entire criminal justice system.

"There is an excellent climate of industrial relations and although it has been damaged by the pay offer, we remain confident that we can resolve our disagreements. We expect a 'No' vote and are keen to resume negotiations which we hope will allow us to reach an agreed settlement."

Ends

Notes for Editors 1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 11,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

2. For further information contact: