PCS: Strong support on first day of passports strike
The issuing of passports was hit today on the first day of a three day strike by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) in a dispute over office closures, draconian working practices and below inflation pay.
Reports from across the country indicated strong support with passport appointments cancelled and offices operating on a skeleton staff as senior managers filled in. In Liverpool all appointments were cancelled today, and only a small number of staff turned up for work across the other 6 regional offices. The union estimated that 80% of members in the IPS stayed away from work.
Staff are angry over restructuring plans which could see the UK’s seven passport offices reduced to three. Plans have already been drawn up to close the Glasgow passport office which could see over 100 jobs go. The union believes that resources are being diverted from passport processing to the controversial introduction of ID cards.
The restructuring comes at a time when management are imposing a draconian performance management system which sets staff against one another and incorporates individual targets.
Staff have been further incensed by a 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.
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “Strike action is not a step which is taken lightly and the inevitable disruption caused over the three days is regrettable. However those on strike have been pushed to the limit by a management seemingly hell bent on unpicking a world class service and a government content on paying poverty wages with its policy of below inflation pay.
“Passport staff deliver an internationally renowned service, yet have to put up pay cuts in real terms, draconian working practices and office closures which will damage the service the public receive. Management and the government alike need to recognise the important work passport staff do by addressing their concerns and paying a fair and just wage.”
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
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