More than 1,000 Passport Office workers will go on strike for five weeks – amid fears walkouts will have ‘significant impact’ on Covid-era backlog in blow to summer holidaymakers
- Passport Office workers to strike for five weeks over jobs, pay and conditions
- At least 1,000 workers in England, Scotland and Wales to strike in April and May
Passport Office workers are to strike for five weeks in an escalation of a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
More than 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working in Passport Offices in England, Scotland and Wales will take part in the action from April 3 to May 5.
It is feared the walkouts will have a ‘significant impact’ passport delivery in a blow to summer holidaymakers, further straining a system already struggling from its Covid backlog.
The union said the action was a ‘significant escalation’ of its long-running dispute,.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘This escalation of our action has come about because, in sharp contrast with other parts of the public sector, ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months.
Passport Office workers are to strike for five weeks in an escalation of a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions (File image)
More than 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working in Passport Offices in England, Scotland and Wales will take part in the action from April 3 to May 5 (File image)
‘Their approach is further evidence they’re treating their own workforce worse than anyone else.
‘They’ve had six months to resolve this dispute but for six months have refused to improve their 2 per cent imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members’ other issues of concern.
‘They seem to think if they ignore our members, they’ll go away.
‘But how can our members ignore the cost-of-living crisis when 40,000 civil servants are using foodbanks and 45,000 of them are claiming the benefits they administer themselves?
‘It’s a national scandal and a stain on this government’s reputation that so many of its own workforce are living in poverty.’
Those working in Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough and Southport will walk out from April 3 to May 5 while those in Belfast will strike from April 7 to May 5.
Source: Read Full Article
