FDA Union

Unions call for action on civil service ‘gender pension gap’ Ministers urged to adopt best practice from elsewhere in the public sector to drive Civil Service Pension Scheme reform

We have highlighted effective and affordable steps other schemes have taken to address pension discrimination. The schemes rules must better reflected the working lives of women to reduce the disparity in outcomes.
www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

A gender pension gap of 45% in the civil service is unacceptable and will leave thousands of women uncertain about their financial future.

The FDA and @prospectunion.bsky.social have written to Cabinet Office minister Anna Turley calling for govt to take urgent action to address this.

Member Iain Campbell accepting the FDA’s highly commended award for best campaign communication for ARC’s Funding the Nation.

FDA’s entry for Funding the Nation, highly commended for best campaign communication at the 2025 TUC Communications Awards

It’s not often a campaign ticks all the boxes. Strong evidence base, great member engagement and influencing a new government’s policy. Could not be prouder of the FDA team behind Funding the Nation - our superb reps and talented staff working together to deliver real change.

Ethnic Minorities Into Leadership The event for those interested in enhancing the capabilities & leadership opportunities for Ethnic Minority civil servants.

Ethnic Minorities into Leadership events are organised by the FDA and Dods and are designed to improve diversity in the senior grades of the civil service

If you'd like to learn more about these events, visit the website.
www.dodsdiversity.com/ethnic-minor...

FDA National Organiser with Justin Placide, Chair of Ethnic Minorities into Leadership conference in London

Our organising team is at Ethnic Minorities into Leadership, photographed below with Chair of today's event
Justin Placide.

If you are attending today, come by our stall to discuss the benefits of FDA membership, from career development support to being your voice in the workplace.

Eagleton states that feedback from FDA members also makes it clear that relocation “should not be mandatory” and calls for the expansion of regional pilots for the Fast Stream.

On the training opportunities offered by the scheme, Eagleton says: “a concern we have heard is that Fast Streamers aren’t given enough experience in management”, but welcomes steps taken to address this, such as the introduction of management modules.

As the panel discusses the key reforms needed in the Fast Stream, Eagleton says that “pay parity is something that our members really want to see… It would improve retention, particularly among those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.”

How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.

The discussion is based on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s report on Fast Stream reform which reflects many of the FDA’s own recommendations, including on pay parity.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The FDA’s National Officer for the Fast Stream Robert Eagleton is taking part in this evening’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel event, ‘How can the Fast Stream deliver more for the civil service?’

Cabinet Office confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme handover Capita gets “final” go-ahead to take over scheme administration following delayed decision

“There will be no period of grace for Capita as our members expect an immediate improvement in service – which is the bare-minimum following the repetitive failures of MyCSP"

FDA's Adrian Prandle discusses pension scheme transition to Capita given go-head

www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

“When you come into the office now, it may be that you want to do team meetings but those spaces are not there"

FDA's Lauren Crowley provided evidence for a new report from a Lords Committee, which says government may need to choose between office attendance mandate & shrinking the office estate.

Professional development | The FDA Union FDA Learn's offer is unique. We know that no other trade union has the variety and quality of professional development that we have.

Find out more about the professional learning and development opportunities available free to members from FDA Learn: www.fda.org.uk/fdalearn/

A room of people

Today our HMRC section, ARC, is providing vital learning support for managers in HMRC in partnership with FDA Learn, covering important subjects such as workplace bullying and harassment, managing difficult conversations and reasonable adjustments.

Next Monday 17 November, FDA National Officer for the Fast Stream Robert Eagleton will be taking part in @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's panel event on how the Fast Stream can deliver for the civil service.

Register to attend in person or online:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...

In the civil service the disability pay gap stands at 8%.

Whilst the FDA applauds the civil service for choosing to publish their Disability Pay Gap figures voluntarily, employers must engage with unions to improve the working lives of disabled civil servants and remove workplace barriers.

A graphic showing someone placing a brick labeled 'pay gap' in a wall with a gap. The text states 'Today is disability pay gap day'.

Disability Pay Gap Day marks the day when the average disabled employee stops getting paid compared to the average non-disabled employee.

#DisabilityPayGap @tuc.org.uk

Farage's 'gold plated' pension reform plan faces firefighters strike threat Reform set to say it would axe defined benefit schemes used in public sector

"Any government that wants to improve public services needs to invest in its people, skills and technology. A race to the bottom on pensions will do nothing to deliver this." - @fdagensec.bsky.social
inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Working from DWP/DHSC Quarry House, Leeds today? Come and say hello and bring along a colleague to meet our Organising team who are keen to discuss the benefits of FDA membership and how we can support them.

For week five of the FDA's Autumn roadshow, the Organising team and reps are at DWP in Kings Court, Sheffield to discuss local issues and the benefits of FDA membership, from support with career development to being your voice in the workplace.

"If this was in an official capacity, why were officials not present? And if it wasn't in an official capacity, then why did he ask departmental resources to be used to promote the trip?"

@robertmurtagh1.bsky.social calls on Paul Givan to clarify the use of departmental resources on his Israel trip

Senior civil service pay rise should be 2.5% or less, Cabinet Office says Government asks Senior Salaries Review Body to prioritise measures from upcoming fundamental review of SCS pay

“We can never return to a situation where civil service pay is held back behind of the rest of the public sector, as was the case for too many years under the previous government" - @laurencrowley.bsky.social
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

"A civil servant cannot answer back publicly. Holding a civil servant to account is what ministers should do... but that has to be in private."

Speaking to @christopherhope.bsky.social, @fdagensec.bsky.social challenges briefings against civil servants who cannot defend themselves publicly.

"Civil servants are delivering public services. You can have less or more of that... but these are the big choices they've got to make."

@fdagensec.bsky.social tells @gbnewsonline.bsky.social
no matter who is in govt, political choices have consequences when deciding the size of the civil service.

Union representing Civil Servants call for clarity over Minister's Israel trip "As it would appear that civil service resources have been used to support this trip, it is vital that there is clarity over whether this was government business or party business."

“The longer this question goes unanswered, the greater the risk that the minister's actions will sow seeds of doubt in the public’s mind over the appropriate use of taxpayer-funded civil service resources." - @robertmurtagh1.bsky.social

www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/norther...

“This confirms what we’ve long suspected - in govt Reform would adopt an American-style politicisation of the civil service. As we’ve seen with the Trump administration, people are brought in to lead key parts of the state not on ability, but on belief & loyalty”, says @fdagensec.bsky.social

MPs warn of ‘clear risk’ over Civil Service Pension Scheme admin transfer Public Accounts Committee says Capita may not be ready to take over scheme from December

“It is essential the Cabinet Office ensures the transfer from MyCSP to Capita is a success and a reliable, speedy, and accurate service is urgently restored”

FDA Assistant General Secretary Adrian Prandle responds to PAC report on civil service pensions

www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

FDA response to PAC report 'Administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme'

“FDA members will recognise the picture the Committee have painted in this report. For years we have supported members experiencing unacceptable and extremely poor service levels"

The FDA responds to the Public Accounts Committee report the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

"Why would you want to work in that sort of environment where when things go wrong because of bad policy, you get the blame?"

@fdagensec.bsky.social tells @kateemccann.bsky.social it's understandable that civil servants were reluctant to work for ministers in the Home Office.

ARC reps hosting an event at HMRC's Greater Manchester hub

ARC reps hosting an event at HMRC's Greater Manchester hub

As part of their Autumn Roadshow our organising team and reps from ARC, the FDA in HMRC, are at HMRC's Greater Manchester Hub, Three New Bailey today.

They will be in the refreshment hub between 1.30pm and 3.30pm to chat with staff about any local issues.