PCS: Second wave of public sector strike action over below inflation pay

Thursday, 17 July 2008 12:00 AM

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) confirmed that members in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) would be taking part in a three day strike next week, as coastguards, Home Office workers, immigration officers and Land Registry staff prepare to go on strike tomorrow (Friday).

The strikes are the latest wave of action over the government's policy of capping public sector pay below the rate of inflation. Pay offers in the areas involved in the action average no more that 2%, with significant numbers receiving 1% or nothing at all.

Friday's action follows on from yesterday's pay strike in the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), two days of walkouts and action short of strike in Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and a two day stoppage in local government by Unison and Unite members.

It is anticipated that tomorrow's action will lead to delays at immigration controls and the cancellation of asylum interviews. The 48 hour stoppage by coastguards, which starts at 7pm Friday, is also expected to close around half of the UK's 19 coastguard rescue control centres.

Further disruption is expected next week with passport interviews cancelled and delays likely to occur in the issuing of passports as IPS staff strike for three days on 23, 24 and 25 July. The three day strike will be followed by action short of a strike further disrupted the issuing of passports.

The week of action over below inflation pay follows a strongly supported strike over the same issue on 24 April co-ordinated by PCS, NUT and UCU. The union warned that it would be moving to a ballot for strike action across the civil service should the government continue in its refusal to review its pay policy.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "Pay rises of 2%, and in many cases 1% or less, are totally unacceptable and represent a pay cut in real terms for dedicated civil and public servants. People delivering essential services, some of whom earn just above the minimum wage, are seeing their pay eroded by rising fuel, food and housing costs.

"Civil and public servants have become incensed by the government's repeated use of the discredited argument that their pay is causing inflation when month after month their pay is actually being cut. With inflation running at 4.6% the government needs to review its draconian policy of capping pay and recognise the impact it is having on hardworking families who are struggling to make ends meet."

ENDS

Notes to editors

* For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 0207 8012820 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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