Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has welcomed news that the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union was successful today in a legal challenge against the UK Government.
The union was successful in challenging changes to the redundancy terms of members after a two-day hearing in the High Court after which Mr Justice Sales ruled the Labour Government acted unlawfully when it introduced, without the PCS’s agreement, a new redundancy scheme reducing the rights staff had accrued over time.
A revised scheme that was going to be imposed from April 1 has now been quashed, meaning the next UK Government must reopen negotiations with the union if it is to agree a new arrangement that protects existing members’ rights.
South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood, who chairs the cross-party PCS group in the National Assembly and spoke at various union rallies during the industrial dispute, said: “I am absolutely delighted to hear that the PCS union was successful in their legal challenge against the UK Government.
“Right from the outset, union leaders and members made a compelling case that their contracts were illegally and immorally ripped up without any form of consultation or notice.
“The union has remained strong throughout the industrial dispute and members were prepared to lose three days’ of pay to go on strike and make a stand.
“I now hope that that the thousands of public sector workers that had their redundancy terms fundamentally altered will see the terms of their contract honoured.”
Leanne added: “I would like to pay tribute to all the PCS members for their solidarity and the strong leadership of Mark Serwotka who has consistently and effectively spoken out against the prevailing cuts agenda of the three main UK political parties.”
