PCS: Passport staff in three day strike
Up to 2,900 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) will begin a three day strike tomorrow (Wed 23 July), in the latest industrial action over the government’s policy to cap public sector pay and close offices.
The three day stoppage, hitting the UK’s seven regional passport offices and 68 interview offices, will lead to the cancellation of passport interviews and delay the issuing of passports during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Passport staff are furious over the pay offer which leads to the longest serving passport staff receiving no pay rise at all for the fifth year in a row. The pay offer worth only 2.5%, comes at the same time as nearly £50 million has been spent on consultants. Starting salaries in the IPS are as low as £13,109.
Staff are also angry over the prospect of office closures which could see the UK’s seven passport offices reduced three. Plans have already been drawn up to close the Glasgow passport office which could see over 100 jobs go. The union fears that resources are being diverted from passport processing to the controversial introduction of ID cards.
The strike is the latest in a week of action which saw driving examiners, coastguards, Land Registry, Valuation Office Agency, Home Office and immigration staff take action last week over the government’s policy of below inflation pay in the public sector. Last week also saw members of Unison and Unite working in local government strike for two days over below inflation pay.
The seven regional passport offices affected by the strike are: London, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Peterborough, Newport and Durham
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “The closure of the Glasgow passport office and the threat to a further unnamed three is fuelling the anger over the government’s policy of below inflation pay. It is disgraceful that long serving passport staff should receive no pay rise for the fifth year in a row and that efficient hardworking staff should be rewarded with a pay cut in real terms.
“With food, fuel and housing cost soaring, the government’s policy of below inflation pay has further incensed a workforce uncertain about their future but passionate about the service they provide. Cuts, below inflation pay and the introduction of a new performance management system have all undermined morale. With a quarter of the civil service earning less than £16,500, the government need to recognise the impact its policies of below inflation pay and cuts are having on hardworking families.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
* For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 0207 801 2820 or 07833 978216.
* PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 315,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK’s sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president Janice Godrich.
Alex Flynn
National Press Officer
Public and Commercial Services Union
160 Falcon Rd
London SW11 2LN
Direct line: 020 7801 2747
Mobile: 07833 978 216
Fax: 020 7924 1847
=====================
Sign up for high-quality public services, accessible to all.
PCS is joining the demand for public services that genuinely meet peoples’ needs,and calling on the European Commission to bring forward European Legislation.
Sign the petition: www.petitionpublicservice.eu
-01.png){kind=spacer}