Union members urged to vote Yes in consultative ballot

FDA members are being urged to vote YES in a consultative ballot to endorse the decision of the union's Executive Committee (EC) to reach an agreement with the Government in early February on changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. The ballot runs from 1-19 March 2010.

The FDA, together with four other unions - Prospect, Prison Officers' Association, Unite and GMB - reached agreement after 18 months of negotiations on changes to the scheme, which sets out the terms available to civil servants who are made redundant on either a compulsory or voluntary basis.

Dave Penman, FDA head of operations, said: "The FDA was faced with making a decision on whether to agree the changes to the scheme or risk losing the significant concessions we had managed to negotiate.

"Faced with this unprecedented situation, the EC agreed the deal of behalf of members. On matters of this significance, the FDA has a long tradition of directly consulting members, but this was not possible because of the deadline the Government had set on laying the amendments to the scheme before Parliament. The FDA now wishes to give members the opportunity to express their view."

Access to the ballot and a booklet explaining the background to these negotiations, the issues the EC considered in reaching its decision and information about the changes to the scheme, can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

Civil Service Compensation Scheme membership consultation ballot 

Members' meetings on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme deal have been arranged for the following times:

Wednesday 3 March 2010: 12.30-2.00pm
Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ

Wednesday 3 March 2010: 3.00pm
HM Revenue and Customs, 22 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NR

Monday 8 March 2010: 12.30pm
Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, London SW1H 9NH

Tuesday 9 March 2010
1.30pm: Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
4.30pm: Scottish Government, St. Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG.

Monday 15 March 2010: 12.30pm
Quarry House, Leeds LS2 7UE

For further details of meetings please click on the following link:
Redundancy and Civil Service Compensation Scheme