What's new

 

02/02/2012 - Mentors sought as scheme expands to the North West
As a second phase of the FDA's public sector mentoring scheme, the union is working with three partners to provide mentoring for 50 undergraduates from diverse backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a civil service career.

31/01/2012 - Welsh Government rejects regional pay
The Welsh Government will not be adopting regional pay, permanent secretary Gill Morgan told the trade unions at a Partnership Forum (Whitley Council) meeting in January 2012.

23/01/2012 - Workplace learning guide gets union backing
Civil Service Learning has produced a practical resource, Your Guide to Learning in the Workplace.

16/01/2012 - Health and Safety reps workshop: 13 February 2012
A workshop is being held on Monday 13 February 2012 from 10am to 4pm for all ARC Health and Safety reps.

12/01/2012 - Union launches appeal against High Court pension decision
The FDA - together with GMB, Prospect, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance (CSPA) - has today launched an appeal against the High Court decision to reject the challenge to the Government’s decision to change the public sector pensions uprating index.

10/01/2012 - Training event for union learning reps: 26 January 2012
Taking place in central London on Thursday 26 January 2012 from 10am to 3.30pm is a training workshop for new and existing FDA union learning reps (ULRs).

20/12/2011 - FDA backs further talks on pensions
Over the past few weeks negotiations across all of the public sector pension schemes have intensified.

19/12/2011 - Union programme seeks economist mentors
The FDA and the Government Economic Service (GES) have been working with Coventry University to develop a mentoring programme for undergraduates who may be interested in applying for GES graduate entry.

15/12/2011 - FDA general secretary to step down
FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume has announced his retirement from 31 October 2012.

12/12/2011 - FDA workshop on 11 January 2012: the Legal Framework of Government
The FDA is running a workshop on Wednesday 11 January 2012 from 9.30am-4.30pm, which will give an understanding of the basic legal framework of government in the UK.

30/11/2011 - FDA takes industrial action
For the first time in our 92-year history, FDA members are today taking strike action following a national ballot, as part of the TUC Day of Action on public sector pensions.

29/11/2011 - Union reacts to Chancellor's Autumn Statement
The FDA has responded to today's Autumn Statement by the Chancellor, stating that "public sector workers are being asked to pay a very high price for a crisis they played no part in creating".

28/11/2011 - FDA responds to Times leader
FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume has, in a letter published today in The Times, responded to Friday's leader, 'Why the Strike is Wrong'.

21/11/2011 - Jonathan Baume appointed to the ACAS Council
Following a recent competition, FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume has been appointed to the ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Council for a three-year term.

14/11/2011 - Union votes for action on pensions
A total of 81% of FDA members who voted in the ballot to support industrial action in the current dispute over the Government's plans to reform public sector pension arrangements voted 'Yes'. The ballot turnout was 54%.

10/11/2011 - BME into Leadership conference report
More than 50 delegates attended the BME into Leadership conference organised by the FDA and training company Westminster Explained, in association with sister unions Managers in Partnership and Prospect.

04/11/2011 - Government makes announcement on long-term pension reform
On Wednesday 2 November chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced to public sector unions new proposals on long-term pension reform.

25/10/2011 - FDA starts High Court action over RPI to CPI switch
The FDA - together with five other unions - has today begun legal action in the High Court to challenge the Government's decision to change the index for uprating public sector pensions from the retail prices index (RPI) to the consumer prices index (CPI).

21/10/2011 - A Future in the SCS: 15 November 2011
The FDA is hosting a half-day networking event for SCS members (non-FDA members also welcome) to explore and discuss career pathways at senior levels in the civil service and wider public sector in challenging times.

14/10/2011 - FDA signs agreement with Skills for Justice
The FDA has signed an agreement with Skills for Justice, to work with the Crown Prosecution Service and others in developing and piloting an accredited bespoke Continuing Professional Development package.

07/10/2011 - FDA launches Fair Pay, Fair Pensions campaign
Following the FDA’s decision to prepare a ballot of members for industrial action on 30 November, the union has launched its Fair Pay, Fair Pensions campaign.

04/10/2011 - Report from the 2011 STUC Black Workers Conference
An FDA delegation of two attended the 2011 STUC Black Workers' Conference, held at STUC Centre in Glasgow on 1 and 2 October.

29/09/2011 - FDA responds to MPs’ criticism of civil servants in Guardian article
Writing on the Guardian Public Leaders Network, FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume responds to the latest Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) report, which has criticised the pace of reform and what it calls “complacency” in the civil service.

28/09/2011 - FDA Public Sector Mentoring Scheme is a ‘gateway for change’
The launch of the Public Sector Mentoring Scheme - the joint project between the FDA and Middlesex University – took place on 27 September.

23/09/2011 - ‘Centre of Government is still much too male’, highest-placed female civil servant tells conference
Around 200 delegates attended the fully-booked Women into Leadership conference organised by the FDA and training company Westminster Explained, in association with sister unions Managers in Partnership and Prospect.

15/09/2011 - FDA agrees to ballot on TUC-wide Day of Action
The FDA and other public sector unions yesterday agreed a joint statement from TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber announcing a Day of Action on 30 November 2011.

15/09/2011 - Report from TUC Congress 2011
For those attending or watching this year's TUC Congress, which took place in London earlier this week, the key debate was about public sector pensions.

14/09/2011 - FDA sets out pensions arguments in Guardian article
Writing today on the Guardian Public Leaders Network, FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume sets out the reasons behind the union's provisional decision to ballot its members on industrial action.

13/09/2011 - FDA skills project meeting: 26 September 2011
The FDA is holding a meeting on Monday 26 September 2011 to discuss the union's professionalism and skills project, now that a further Union Learning Fund round for 2012-14 has been confirmed.

08/09/2011 - FDA gives pensions warning to Government
A provisional decision to ballot members on possible industrial action if the Government fails to change its proposed imposition of a pensions contributions increase from 2012, was taken yesterday by the FDA’s Executive Committee.

07/09/2011 - FDA seminar: Influencing Stakeholders Through Emotional Intelligence
The FDA – together with the HM Revenue and Customs Senior Women’s Network - is running an emotional intelligence (EI) training course for women on Thursday 8 September 2011 in central Edinburgh.

31/08/2011 - Looking beyond the public sector
The FDA – together with Managers in Partnership (MiP) – is running a half-day workshop on Tuesday 13 September looking at the issues to consider when thinking about self-employment.

19/08/2011 - FDA highlights role of public servants in responding to riots aftermath
The FDA has highlighted the role of Crown Prosecution Service staff and other public sector workers who have been at the forefront of the Government’s response to the widespread public disorder across England in early August.

11/08/2011 - FDA pay success in the Home Office
The union is pleased to report that the Home Office has now settled the Employment Tribunal claims lodged by the FDA and Prospect in respect of the department's 2010 pay offer.

04/08/2011 - Mentors sought for pan-public sector scheme
The FDA’s mentoring programme is seeking additional fast stream members to work with Middlesex University students considering a public sector career.

28/07/2011 - Union responds to Government announcement on pension contributions
The FDA has today responded to the Government's announcement of a consultation on pension increases for civil servants.

27/07/2011 - Training session provides education advice skills
FDA Learn – the FDA’s skills project – held a training session for the union’s ULRs (union learning representatives) on Monday 25 July in central London.

22/07/2011 - Pan-public sector mentoring scheme moves to next stage
The FDA's new mentoring scheme moved to the next stage of development yesterday with a lunchtime meeting of around 20 fast streamers at the union's head office in central London.

14/07/2011 - Fast streamers ‘need a jolly good praising’, says Sir Gus
The 2011 Fast Stream Conference took place on 11 July at the QEII Conference Centre in central London.

13/07/2011 - Report from Civil Service Live
Civil Service Live - now in its fourth year - drew civil servants of all grades to London's Olympia exhibition centre for three days in early July, with the aim of providing inspiration and allowing delegates to share best practice.

11/07/2011 - FDA banner on display at Pride march
The FDA banner – along with many other union banners – was carried at the front of the Pride London parade, which marched through central London on Saturday 2 July.

07/07/2011 - Union scoops two TUC awards
The FDA has been placed second (highly commended) in the best journal/magazine and the best campaign categories of the 2011 TUC Communication Awards.

06/07/2011 - Report from the 2011 TUC LGBT Conference
An FDA delegation of five, plus one visitor, attended the 2011 TUC LGBT Conference in central London on 30 June and 1 July.

04/07/2011 - Latest 'Unlocking the SCS' conference looks to the future
Nearly 100 delegates at the latest Unlocking the SCS conference - held on 30 June 2011 in central London - heard a range of speakers including Lord Andrew Adonis talking about 'SCS 2020 - What should the SCS of the future look like?'.

30/06/2011 - Union gives evidence on the administration and effectiveness of HMRC
ARC - the Association of Revenue and Customs – yesterday gave evidence to the Treasury Select Committee's inquiry into the administration and effectiveness of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and closing the tax gap.

27/06/2011 - 30 June industrial action
A number of public sector unions - not including the FDA - are taking industrial action on Thursday 30 June 2011.

22/06/2011 - FDA criticises departmental statements on pensions
The FDA has condemned statements on pensions issued today by Permanent Secretaries. The statements, which appear to have been issued on the instructions of Ministers, follow on from Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander's unhelpful and provocative speech delivered last Friday.

17/06/2011 - Union condemns Government pensions comments
The FDA has reacted furiously to recent comments on public sector pensions by Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in advance of his speech to the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) think tank this afternoon.

15/06/2011 - Union opens HMRC learning centre
The FDA - with backing from the Union Learning Fund - has opened a new learning centre at HM Revenue and Customs' central London Kingsway office.

13/06/2011 - Union holds pensions meeting for Sheffield members
On Monday 27 June, FDA members in the Sheffield area are invited to attend a meeting covering current pension issues.

10/06/2011 - FDA Learn workshop: 4 July 2011
FDA Learn - the union's skills project - is holding a workshop for new and existing union learning reps on Monday 4 July 2011 at FDA head office, 8 Leake Street, London SE1 7NN.

01/06/2011 - Report: TUC Disability Conference 2011
FDA delegates Ro Marsh, Roland Zollner, David Chrimes and Sarah Guerra attended the 2011 TUC Disability Conference, which was held at Congress House in central London on Wednesday 25 May and Thursday 26 May.

25/05/2011 - The FDA's skills project makes plans for 2012
More than 60 delegates attended the FDA Learning and Skills conference on 23 May, held at the NUT in central London.

23/05/2011 - A price is being paid for politicians’ failings, Baume tells delegates
A total of 160 senior public servant delegates attended the FDA's annual conference in central London on Thursday 19 May.

18/05/2011 - Union plans BME into Leadership conference
The FDA, in partnership with Westminster Explained, is organising a one-day BME into Leadership event on 10 November 2011.

12/05/2011 - Union ‘responding actively at all levels’
An overview of the FDA's work over the past year - contained in the union's 2011 Annual Report - reveals a particularly busy year with it "responding actively at all levels" - nationally with ministers, in individual departments, and right across the UK.

03/05/2011 - FDA learning and skills seminar: 23 May 2011
FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume and Rowena Kisely, deputy director, Civil Service Learning, will be the keynote speakers at the FDA learning and skills seminar taking place on Monday 23 May 2011.

19/04/2011 - Union challenges legality of Government's pension decision
The FDA yesterday launched an application for a judicial review of the Government's decision to change the index for the uprating of public sector pensions from the retail prices index (RPI) to the consumer prices index (CPI).

18/04/2011 - FDA takes part in the TUC Black Workers' Conference 2011
A full FDA delegation of five members – plus three visitors - attended the 2011 TUC Black Workers' Conference, held at TUC Congress House in central London from 8 to 10 April.

14/04/2011 - Seminar explores Emotional Intelligence
A total of 28 female FDA members took part in a lunchtime training session on 13 April looking at Emotional Intelligence (EI). The training, held at HM Treasury, was organised by FDA Learn and the HMRC Senior Women's Network, and delivered by Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) member - and former ARC president - Michelle Wyer.

12/04/2011 - FDA president speaks at Welsh Assembly Government AGM
The FDA Welsh Assembly Government branch Annual General Meeting took place in Cardiff on Friday 8 April. FDA president David Watts was the main speaker at the lunchtime meeting, which for the first time had a video conference link enabling members in Aberystwyth to take part.

05/04/2011 - Conference looks at opportunities beyond the civil service
Around 125 delegates attended the most recent Getting Out to Get On conference, held on Thursday 31 March in central London.

28/03/2011 - FDA report from the TUC March for the Alternative
On Saturday 26 March, an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people joined the TUC’s March for the Alternative, organised to protest against the Coalition Government’s spending cuts. FDA members, representatives and staff – some with their partners and children - joined the march.

24/03/2011 - FDA event provides an insight into parliamentary processes
On 23 March 2011, more than 150 delegates attended an FDA event aimed at helping public servants engage more effectively with the parliamentary process.

18/03/2011 - Women’s reception marks 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day
To mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, and also to celebrate Women's History Month, the FDA hosted an evening reception open to women members and their guests on 16 March 2011.

16/03/2011 - ARC holds House of Commons meeting on tackling the tax gap
Around 60 people attended today’s Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC) meeting at the House of Commons on ‘Tackling the Tax Gap: Defeating the Deficit’.

15/03/2011 - FDA responds to Hutton pay proposals
Responding in the media to today's publication of Will Hutton's Review of Fair Pay in the Public Sector, the FDA has described as "ill-conceived" the proposals to link pay to performance for Senior Civil Servants though a system of 'earn-back'.

14/03/2011 - Six-strong FDA delegation attends the TUC Women’s Conference
An FDA delegation of six attended the 2011 TUC Women’s Conference, from 9 to 11 March in Eastbourne.

10/03/2011 - Union responds to pensions report
The FDA responded across the media to today’s publication of Lord Hutton’s public sector pensions report.

08/03/2011 - FDA celebrates International Women's Day
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first International Women's Day.

02/03/2011 - Efficiency and Procurement 2011 conference: 24 March
FDA members can benefit from a fully funded delegate place at the Efficiency and Procurement 2011 conference on 24 March, to be held in central London.

25/02/2011 - FDA supports Work Your Proper Hours Day 2011
Today is Work Your Proper Hours Day. According to TUC research, this is the day when those who do unpaid overtime would start, on average, to get paid if they did all their unpaid work at the start of the year.

24/02/2011 - FDA national equality officer elected to Discrimination Law Association Executive Committee
FDA national officer with responsibility for equalities and diversity, Ro Marsh, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Discrimination Law Association (DLA).

22/02/2011 - FDA responds to comments by former Welsh finance minister
The FDA has responded robustly to comments by former Welsh finance minister Andrew Davies about the union in a news article in the Western Mail.

17/02/2011 - Welsh partnership provides service to minimise job losses
Public sector unions in Wales – including the FDA – have signed a partnership agreement with public sector employers and the Welsh Assembly Government in order to provide a sector-wide response to the budget cuts and to help minimise job losses in Wales.

11/02/2011 - FDA endorses Cabinet Office principles on fast stream job security
In response to an approach made by the FDA late last year, the Cabinet Office has published a series of high-level principles designed to ensure that a consistent approach is taken across the civil service with regard to job security measures for fast streamers.

08/02/2011 - FDA-Carbon Trust seminar: 23 March 2011
Following last year's successful FDA-Met Office London event, the FDA's Union Learning Fund project is organising a 'Modern Workplaces and the Environment' seminar in conjunction with the Carbon Trust on 23 March 2011.

04/02/2011 - ARC gives evidence to Commons committee
ARC - the Association of Revenue and Customs - has called for HM Revenue and Customs to move away from a "command and control" structure to "release" staff to work more effectively.

24/01/2011 - Job vacancy: trade union negotiator
The FDA is seeking to recruit an experienced negotiator to join its head office team.

20/01/2011 - Education permanent secretary to speak at June conference
Department for Education permanent secretary, David Bell, has agreed to give the keynote speech at the Unlocking the SCS conference to be held in central London on 30 June.

13/01/2011 - Seminar looks at opportunities beyond the public sector
Around 60 delegates attended the Getting Out to Get On seminar, which was held on Tuesday 11 January in central London.

20/12/2010 - FDA Civil Service Compensation Scheme ballot result
The FDA ballot on proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme closed on Thursday 16 December.

16/12/2010 - Break-up of the Council of Civil Service Unions
The PCS has called for the winding up of the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU).

14/12/2010 - Anti-cuts website now live
New cuts campaign website www.falseeconomy.org.uk is now live. The TUC has been developing the site in partnership with a group of local campaigners and online activists.

13/12/2010 - Evidence to MPs stresses need for investment in tax professionals
ARC - the Association of Revenue and Customs - has recently submitted evidence to the Treasury Select Committee's inquiry into the administration and effectiveness of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

09/12/2010 - Report from Unlocking the SCS London
Around 150 delegates attended the FDA-sponsored Unlocking the SCS event on 7 December, aimed at providing career development advice to staff below the SCS.

08/12/2010 - Additional members' meetings arranged to discuss the Civil Service Compensation Scheme ballot
The FDA Executive Committee - together with Prospect, GMB and Unite - have agreed to recommend that members vote yes, to agree the terms on offer for changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS). Additional CSCS members' meetings have now been arranged, to explore the issues in greater depth.

29/11/2010 - Having your say: membership survey results
More than 3,000 members responded to the FDA's 2010 online survey, which was carried out during September and early October.

26/11/2010 - ‘Government is trying to achieve too much, too fast’, MiP chief tells delegates
The fourth Managers in Partnership (MiP) national conference took place on Wednesday 24 November 2010 at the Congress Centre in central London.

23/11/2010 - FDA members urged to vote Yes in Civil Service Compensation Scheme ballot
The FDA Executive Committee, together with Prospect, GMB and Unite, have agreed to recommend to members that they vote yes to agree the terms on offer for changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

19/11/2010 - Report: FDA Fast Stream Ball
The FDA Fast Stream Ball celebrated its sixth year in style on Saturday 13 November.

19/11/2010 - Union responds to Northern Ireland review
The FDA has responded to the Senior Salaries Review Body report on the pay arrangements for SCS members in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

17/11/2010 - Dave Hartnett to speak at December conference
Dave Hartnett, HM Revenue and Customs' permanent secretary for tax, has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Unlocking the SCS conference in central London on 7 December.

11/11/2010 - FDA welcomes Sir Gus’s public defence of civil servants
The FDA has welcomed the Cabinet Secretary dispelling the “tired old caricatures” of civil servants as “featherbedded pen-pushing bureaucrats...on Premiership footballer-style salaries”.

09/11/2010 - Union gives evidence to Public Administration Select Committee
FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume this morning gave evidence to the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee's inquiry into the Government's plans to reform public bodies.

03/11/2010 - Union signs three agreements to provide opportunities and events for members
The FDA's skills project - FDA Learn - has signed memoranda of understanding with Middlesex University, outplacement provider Fairplace, and public sector conference and information provider Gov Today.

02/11/2010 - FDA supports Equal Pay Day
Women’s equality campaign group The Fawcett Society is calling today – Tuesday 2 November - Equal Pay Day. It has calculated that the average full-time pay gap between women and men - at 16.4% - is equivalent to men being paid all the year round while women work for free after 2 November.

20/10/2010 - Thousands take part in the TUC anti-cuts rally
FDA representatives joined thousands at the TUC rally in Westminster yesterday, to protest against spending cuts. The event, which brought together campaign groups, users of public services and both union leaders and members, was followed by a lobby of MPs inside parliament.

19/10/2010 - FDA celebrates Black History Month
An FDA Black History Month event was held at lunchtime today, with the theme of 'Celebrating trade unionism - the black contribution'.

18/10/2010 - FDA sponsors 2010 Civil Service Diversity and Equality Award
The 2010 Civil Service Diversity and Equality Awards took place on the evening of Tuesday 12 October at LSO St Luke's, Barbican, in central London.