Our consultative ballot on the pay cap and possible industrial action opened on 9 October and closes on 6 November. Make sure you use your vote.

Most members will now have received their ballot papers through the post for the consultative ballot.

The ballot paper asks

1. Do you agree that the pay cap should be scrapped; and that funds should be made available to provide you with an above inflation pay rise?
2. If the government refuse to scrap the pay cap, are you prepared to take part in industrial action?

Members are urged to vote yes to both questions.

You can vote by post, phone or email.

What if I haven’t received a ballot paper?

If you haven’t received your ballot paper by 19 October or had an email about how to vote online by 20 October you should request a replacement ballot paper. However, as long as we have your correct contact details you will automatically be sent replacement ballot papers if we see that you have not voted.

Reminders to vote will be sent to your personal email address (if we have it) three times during the ballot period. If you don’t receive anything at all then it means we don’t have up-to-date contact information for you and you should notify us of your correct contact details and request a replacement ballot paper.

You can request a replacement postal ballot paper by emailing balloting@pcs.org.uk between 20 and 30 October, giving your name and membership number, as well as your correct postal address, your personal email address and your mobile phone number. Alternatively you can call your local PCS regional office and talk to a member of PCS staff.

If you are requesting an online vote you should email balloting@pcs.org.uk before 2 November, making sure that we have your correct personal email address, and we will send you a replacement online ballot form.

Your vote really does count

Because of the new rules on turnout in trade union ballots, if anyone doesn’t vote it counts as a “no” vote. So don’t rely on everyone else to cast their vote, please make sure you do it yourself.

Speak to your work colleagues and make sure they have voted and encourage them to join PCS if they’re not already a member.