PCS members have delivered the highest yes vote and turnout in the history of the union. But undemocratic, anti-union strike laws, implemented last year, will prevent strike action.

Our independent scrutineers’ report, as required in accordance with section 231B of the Trade Union and Labour relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, for the above ballot which closed at noon on Monday 23 July 2018 is as follows:

Number of Individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot                    142,673

Number of voting papers returned                                                            59,285

Question: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?

Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned                              31

Number of votes cast in the ballot                                                             59,254

Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote           41.6%

Result of voting

Yes                         50,726                   85.6%

No                            8,528                   14.4%

General Secretary Mark Serwotka’s video message on the ballot result:

The ballot will send a strong message to the government that PCS members want a pay rise. However, the new legal requirements mean that unions not only have to show majority support for a strike, but that 50% of those balloted have voted.

The pay campaign continues

The result is a major disappointment, but the campaign has made our union stronger, with thousands of new members and hundreds of new reps and advocates. You and your colleagues still deserve a pay rise, so the pay campaign will not end here. The PCS national executive committee (NEC) will meet on Tuesday 24 July, and agree the next steps in the pay campaign.

A full statement about the next steps in the campaign will be issued tomorrow (24).