Announcing the signing, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman highlighted the “vital role” special advisers play in supporting ministers and helping to protect the impartiality of the civil service. Penman also acknowledged that, “their passion, loyalty and commitment has too often been taken for granted in the past.”
In the two years since special advisers made the decision to unionise and choose FDA as their collective voice, significant milestones have been achieved. Three consolidated pay uplifts have been agreed, an independent view of pay was initiated and a new pay policy negotiated, and dozens of individual members have been advised and represented.
FDA Assistant General Secretary Lauren Crowley said, “being a special adviser is one of the hardest jobs in government”. Affirming her pride in the achievements of the past two years, Crowley stated that “the progress we have made in this short time shows the importance of having a union at every level of government.”
The formal recognition agreement will ensure that the FDA can act as the collective voice for special advisers, as we do for all our members.
If Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants a different political culture, he needs to start with the Ministerial Code says Dave Penman.
After comparing the results of our recent carers’ survey with our findings from 2020, Amelia Dowler shares the positives as well as the FDA’s recommendations to help carers within their civil service careers.
Tommy Newell speaks to Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government Joe Griffin about leading an organisation through contraction, working with unions to shape change, and the promise of AI to make public services more human.
