The title above may be the latest slogan from the Labour party, but it also describes many of the elements as to why the PCS pay claim this year is 10%. With this briefing I will attempt to clarify why it is so vital that you vote in this pay ballot.

Firstly the basics, due to the anti-trade union legislation, we need to hit 50% of you voting to be able to have a mandate to take ANY industrial action, be that strike action or action short of a strike. Therefore your vote really does count, it really does strengthen our position in national negotiations on pay. The legislation gives us that this mandate, should we achieve it, is valid for six months. Therefore it is something we can go into negotiations with and possibly not need to use, but we have it if we need it.

You will not send the country into ever increasing debt by getting a pay rise! Just look at the money that has been spent on Brexit. It has not yet been achieved and yet the Government are spending BILLIONS on buying votes and trying to protect their political position. They can afford a pay rise for you.

MP’s have just voted themselves yet another inflation busting pay rise. All the while they are telling us that we can only have 1% they are voting in above inflation pay rises because an independent body says they are worth it. YOU ARE WORTH IT! 10% will still leave you behind the inflationary increases since austerity began but it is a contribution to bringing us back in line.

They will get it back! If you get a 10% pay rise, you will be taxed on it. This will increase tax receipts for the exchequer. If, because for once you have a little extra left at the end of the month you buy a little extra, or take a little trip to treat your family, you will pay VAT on your purchase, which will increase tax receipts. However as a knock on effect it will increase trade for local shops, helping them stay open and keeping their staff in jobs, and maybe giving them a pay rise.

It is clear that it is not a selfish thing to ask for this pay increase, it will go some way to helping local communities and giving you a bearable standard of living.  It is an increase that you deserve rather than one which disrespects your contribution.

DON’T LOSE YOU CHANGE TO VOTE. VOTE AND POST TODAY AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT 1% IS AN INSULT. YOU DESERVE MORE USE YOUR VOICE, USE YOUR VOTE!