18th June 2026
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday responded to the announcement that around 2,000 facilities staff across government. Roles like cleaning, catering and security are set to be brought in-house after talks with PCS Union.
Around 2,000 low-paid facilities staff set to be brought in house after talks between Chancellor and PCS Union secure insourcing agreement
Wider government commitment to deliver 5 year roadmaps on insourcing across central government departments.
Yesterday’s announcement should be a “signal of intent” and “kickstart a serious programme of insourcing” across the public sector, says TUC
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak yesterday said:
“This is an important step towards the government’s promise to deliver the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation.
“It shows what’s possible when the government listens to and works with unions, identifying contracts which are failing workers and the services they deliver – and securing change.
“For far too long, rampant outsourcing has led to shareholders cashing in at the expense of workers and our public services.
“The scourge of outsourcing can be felt all the way through our public sector – from fragmentation of services to two-tier workforces, where outsourced staff are on worse pay and conditions than their directly employed colleagues.
“The government has promised to right this wrong by bringing outsourced public contracts back in house. Today’s announcement should be a signal of intent – and kickstart a serious programme of insourcing contracts across the public sector.
“This will ultimately stop money being wasted and help rebuild our public services, so they are run for public good – not for profit.”
The workers, employed in a wide range of essential roles including catering, security officers, cleaners, porters, engineers, plumbers, electricians, receptionists, handypersons and messenger services, deliver vital support to departments including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Department for Education (DfE) and the Cabinet Office.