PCS: Union to protest to stop the closure of courts

PCS: Union to protest to stop the closure of courts

PCS: Union to protest to stop the closure of courts

The Public and Commercial Services union will hold a protest against the closure of 157 courts in England and Wales.

The event on Wednesday (15 September) is timed to coincide with the deadline for the government’s consultation over the closures, which the union says will devastate access to local justice.

As part of a wider campaign to defend public services and jobs across the justice sector, PCS members will be outside the Ministry of Justice headquarters, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ, from 12 noon to 2pm.

Kevin Greenway, PCS MoJ group president, said: “Many committed and experienced staff who understand the justice system could lose their jobs if these courts close.

“Local communities will lose a vital public service and access to justice for thousands of people will be denied. We want to highlight the consequences courts closures and other cuts will have.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “At the TUC conference this week we have shown that there is an alternative to the government’s cuts in public spending that are being driven by ideology, not necessity.”

PCS reps will deliver their response to the consultation at 1 pm. The protest will include a grim reaper figure who will sound the death knell for the justice system and a ‘judge’ getting no justice from David Cameron and Nick Clegg characters.

ENDS

Notes

– For information and interview requests, contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 07833 978216 or PCS negotiations officer Lois Austin on 020 7801 2625 or 07707 312875

– To download a copy of the union’s ‘There is an alternative: the case against cuts in public spending’ document visit www.pcs.org.uk/altdoc

– The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 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 fifth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich

– Follow PCS on Twitter twitter.com