Around 100,000 civil servants to go on strike on 1 February
Around 100,000 civil servants will strike on 1 February in a worsening dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, the Public and Commercial Services union has announced.
It will be the largest civil service strike for years and coincides with the TUC’s “protect the right to strike day” announced yesterday in response to new government legislation.
The action will involve members in 124 government departments and follows walkouts last month involving Border Force staff, driving examiners and National Highway workers.
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PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “During the last month, when thousands of PCS members across a range of departments took sustained industrial action, the government said it had no money.
“But it managed to find millions of pounds to spend on managers and military personnel in a failed attempt to cover the vital work our members do.
“We warned the government our dispute would escalate if they did not listen – and we’re as good as our word.”
Military personnel were paid £20 daily bonuses for stepping in for striking public sector workers last month.
The disputes have reached a bitter deadlock as ministers continue to insist they can’t afford to give pay rises despite unions warning they will continue to strike until a pay offer is made.
Mr Serwotka revealed he is meeting with Jeremy Quinn, the minister for the cabinet office, tomorrow and said “if he puts some money on the table there is a chance this dispute can be resolved”.
“If he doesn’t, then he’ll see public services from benefits to driving tests, from passports to driving licences, from ports to airports affected by industrial action on February 1.”
The PCS said a further 33,000 members working in five more departments, including HM Revenue & Customs, are next week re-balloting to join the union’s national strike action.
Industrial action is continuing to grip the public sector, with nurses set to stage a second round of strikes next week and ambulance workers set to strike on 23 January after walk outs across England and Wales today.
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On Tuesday, the government brought in new legislation for “minimum safety levels” when workers stage walkouts.
But unions have vowed to fight the laws “every step of the way”, saying they are an attack on the right to strike and could be illegal.
