Civil service union votes to double strike fund to prepare for Reform government

The largest union representing civil servants has voted to double its financial reserves to fund industrial action in the event of a Reform UK government.

A motion has been passed at the Public Commercial Service (PCS) union's annual conference stating that the rise of Nigel Farage's party "raises the real threat" of a future Number 10 "that is deeply hostile to both trade unions and to its own workforce".

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It refers to the Reform leader's plans to cut 70,000 civil service jobs, saying that like Donald Trump, who has slashed thousands of federal jobs, "one of the first acts of a Farage Government is likely to be an attack on civil servants and their unions".

In order to continue operating under this scenario, the PCS has agreed to oversee the creation of a Strategic Investment Programme with the target of a 10% surplus for each financial year - up from the 5% objective it has now.

The motion ensures that the money generated under the surplus programme is ringfenced and not used for day-to-day spending until at least 2029, the latest point at which the next general election is expected.

Explaining what the funds will be used for, it states the union must ensure it has the financial resources "to take the industrial, legal and campaigning decisions necessary to defend the union and our members in the event of the election of a hostile government".

The union has rejected accusations from Reform UK that this breaches civil service impartiality, saying this is about protecting members against threats to jobs, pay, pensions, and terms and conditions.

But Dave Penman, who heads the FDA Union that also represents civil servants, told Sky News that any government with an electoral mandate can make changes to the size of the civil service and staff "must serve the government of the day or leave - it's simple".

'You won't have a job to return to'

The PCS represents nearly 200,000 members working across government departments and agencies.

It is not affiliated to any political party but is on the left of politics. Its former general secretary Mark Serwotka, who led it for 23 years until retiring in 2023, is an ally of Jeremy Corbyn's and was initially part of efforts to set up a branch of Your Party in Wales.

He headed the union when it tried to take legal action against the Conservative's Rwanda deportation policy, branding it "inhumane".

Another motion that has been tabled at the PCS conference, which will be voted on later today if time allows, calls for a comprehensive "Industrial Defence Strategy" by the end of 2026, "specifically designed to counter a hostile Reform government".

It says the specific threat of Reform "requires a laser-focused industrial strategy", expressing fears of a legislative agenda that could deauthorise the union alongside "a culture war aimed at demoralizing public servants".

Reform UK MP Danny Kruger has accused the PCS of breaching civil service impartiality with the plan - saying the strikes would be unlawful and anyone who takes part in them would not have a job to return to.

He wrote on X: "By publicly confirming the reason for future industrial action as opposition to a specific 'hostile' government, the PCS have ensured their strikes cannot be considered a 'trade dispute' and would be unprotected and unlawful."

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Mr Kruger is a former Conservative MP who defected last year. He is now Reform's efficiency tsar, so will play a crucial role in the job cuts if his party wins the next election.

He wants to reduce the headcount in Whitehall by around 68,500 (13%) and replace senior civil servants who head departments, known as permanent secretaries, with political appointments.

He argues Whitehall is "bloated" with 500,000 civil servants - the highest level in 20 years - and says a smaller workforce will create billions of savings and make it run more effectively.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also pledged to reduce civil service running costs by 16% by the end of the decade, but the publication of a civil service workforce plan has been delayed.

FDA boss Mr Penman said that while Reform are using stronger language to describe their plans, successive governments have tried to cut the civil service but struggle to do so "when faced with the reality of what that means".

However, he said it is ultimately for ministers to "cut the cloth" and set out what the size of the civil service should be - not unions.

He said: "Many will not like the policies of whichever govt they serve and that will apply if Reform were elected. As long as civil servants are not being asked to break their professional code, including upholding the rule of law, they don't get to decide which bits of policy they implement and which they don't."

(c) Sky News 2026: Civil service union votes to double strike fund to prepare for Reform government