The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union is balloting members that work on the MyCSP administration system ahead of its takeover by Capita later this year.
The union claimed in a statement released last week that MyCSP’s management had not allowed PCS to represent employees at recent discussions ahead of the December switch. It also claimed that management was “refusing to acknowledge PCS as the recognised trade union for staff”.
MyCSP administers the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which has more than 1.5m members.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are understandably angry at being shut out of negotiations because they want the right to have a say in setting their own terms and conditions.
“Despite being denied bargaining rights, staff are continuing to join PCS and are balloting for strike action because they want our skilled negotiators to represent them, and they want an independent trade union fighting for fairness and to improve their working life.”
MyCSP staff are due to transfer to Capita under TUPE arrangements. PCS said the company had refused to allow PCS to represent staff during discussions around the transfers.
The union also said it planned to submit a claim for recognition through the central arbitration committee.
A postal ballot for strike action will open tomorrow (28 May).
Pensions Expert has contacted MyCSP via its majority owner, Equiniti, for comment, as well as the Cabinet Office.
Capita was awarded a 10-year contract to run the Civil Service Pension Scheme’s administration in 2023, with the term beginning in September this year.
