Civil servants in the Fast Stream programme who are members of the FDA union have voted resoundingly in favour of accepting a two-year pay deal described by the Cabinet Office as worth 6.75% over two years.
The deal for 2023-24 and 2024-25 was announced by Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin earlier this month and also includes the introduction of a “London living allowance” worth 4% in the current year and 8% in 2024-25.
According to the FDA, the second year of the Fast Stream deal will deliver a 22.5% pay rise for some civil servants on the programme. It said the deal represented a “breakthrough” for fast streamers and that minimum rises for the year would be 5.6% in 2023-24 and 8.1% in 2024-25.
The Cabinet Office set out new “spot” rates for the four years of the Fast Stream in its announcement on August 14. Fast streamers move on to the new rates as they progress.
The FDA said yesterday that 94% of members who are part of the Fast Stream programme had voted to accept the offer on a turnout of 68%. In January 88% of FDA members in the Fast Stream voted to strike over pay. Turnout then was 60%.
FDA national officer for the Fast Stream Lauren Crowley said the results of January’s ballot had been instrumental in securing the current deal.
“By voting for strike action earlier this year, FDA Fast Stream members made the argument for pay reform loud and clear, and it was only this decisive action that brought the Cabinet Office back to the negotiating table,” she said.
“The overwhelming mandate for action demonstrated the anger fast streamers felt about years of empty promises of reform. However, the FDA is pleased that the employer has listened, and this is a substantial offer that will make a real difference to fast streamers, who are among our most talented and dedicated public servants.”
Crowley added: “The work on Fast Stream pay is not finished, but this deal will lead to significant salary increases and represents a victory for all our members who took the difficult decision to vote for industrial action.”