PCS Union to strike

Article published: Friday, March 5th 2010

The Government faces a month of industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services Union starting with a 48 hour strike on the 8 and 9 March.

The dispute relates to changes in redundancy terms and working hours with Jobcentre staff, Coastguards, UK Border Agency officials, court staff and driving test examiners all affected. 64.3 per cent of members balloted by the union voted in favour of strike action, 81.4 per cent supported a ban on overtime.

If the proposed changes are enforced staff could face losses of up to a third of their current entitlements. There are also concerns that the changes could pave the way for tens of thousands of quick-and-easy job losses in a sector where job security is already waning.

General Secretary of PCS, Mark Serwotka, wrote on the union website: “We have suggested ways in which the government can make these savings whilst protecting the rights of existing members, yet it seems intent on penalising the people who keep this country running. With civil and public service jobs increasingly at risk, this is a cynical attempt to cut jobs on the cheap which will ultimately damage the services we all rely on.”

Joe Beech

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