Financial Conduct Authority staff vote to strike

Unite, the union representing staff at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has today (April 12) announced the result of the industrial action vote at the FCA.

The ballot closed with over 75 per cent voting in favour of industrial action following the dispute around changes to pay and conditions. A further 89.8 per cent also voted to support industrial action short of strike action.

The vote for strike is a historic first for the FCA workforce.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said, “For the first time ever, the employees at the Financial Conduct Authority have voted for industrial action. They have made it very clear that the proposed changes to staff pay and conditions are completely unacceptable. The FCA management must now address the serious concerns of their employees.

Unite officer Alan Scott added, “FCA staff have not taken the decision to vote for industrial action lightly. Unite has made it clear that the pay cuts and unfair appraisals are extremely detrimental to thousands of staff and it is time for the FCA to rethink these plans. The continued refusal to recognise an independent trade union further damages the standing of the organisation.

“The management could still avoid the reputational and business damage caused by strike action by meeting with Unite to resolve the dispute.”

Following the ballot result Unite has once again contacted ACAS in an attempt to encourage the FCA to sit down with Unite representatives to address the concerns of their workforce. Unless positive steps are taken to address the concerns set out by staff Unite members at the FCA will now be meeting to plan the next steps in the dispute which is the result of damaging changes to the pay and conditions of staff.

Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will fight back against any efforts to diminish workers’ living standards.

By Saba Edwards