The PCS, whose members include Border Force staff, have been urged to back action after general secretary Mark Serwotka described a new pay offer as “insulting” and “completely inadequate”. 

Following a meeting this morning with minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin, Serwotka said PCS members had been offered no improvement on 2022’s 2% pay rise, with 4.5-5% offered for 2023.

Serwotka said the offer amounted to half the current rate of inflation. 

He added: “What we have been offered for 2023 is not enough but it is, for the first time, in line with what other public sector workers have been offered and have rejected. 

“The government has once again insulted our members in a way no other workers have been subjected to. 

“Despite strong indications ministers were giving our members a backdated pay rise or a lump sum, today’s announcement makes no provision at all to address 2022’s pay, which they done for other public sector workers.”

He urged members to vote yes in a forthcoming ballot that closes on 9 May. The union must then give 14 days’ notice of any action.