PCS: 10 November civil service strike information

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Thursday, 06, Nov 2008 12:00

Monday 10 November will see up to 260,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) taking part in one day UK wide civil service strike in a dispute over the government’s public sector pay cap%, which is resulting in pay cuts and pay freezes for some of the lowest paid in the public sector.

The one day UK civil service wide strike will have significant impact hitting passports, Jobcentres, Tax Credits, immigration and customs, as well as driving licences, coastguards, driving tests and museums.

Picket lines, rallies and marches will be taking place across the UK on 10 November. Highlights include:

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary will be in Liverpool city centre touring picket lines in the morning and will be available for interview. He will be also be addressing a rally in Liverpool which starts at 12noon at Friends Meeting House, L1 3BT.

In London there will be picket lines from early in morning including, The British Library, New Scotland Yard, the Derby Gate entrance to the House of Commons, the Identity and Passports Service in Victoria, the Royal Courts of Justice and Old Bailey. There will also be a march from the Imperial War Museum to the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street SW1 at 11:30am which will be followed by a rally at 12:30pm

In total there will be nearly 20 rallies and marches taking place across the UK. In addition to Liverpool and London theses include:

* Luton - Rally 12:30 pm at Luton Postals Sports and Social Club

* Preston - March and rally 11:00am 55th Division Club

* Ipswich - Rally 12 noon Ipswich Labour Club

* Birmingham - Rally 12 noon Birmingham and Midland Institute

* Nottingham - March beginning at 12 noon at the Forest Recreational Ground to Congressional Hall for a rally starting at 12:45pm

* Newcastle - Mass public leafleting in city centre from 12 noon

* Peterborough - Rally 11am Laxton Square

* Blackpool - Rally 11am Layton Institute

* Manchester - Rally 12 noon Mechanics Institue

* Glasgow - Rally 11am T&G offices Bath Street

* Edinburgh - Rally 11am St. Mary’s Cathedral

* Dundee - Rally 12 noon The Steps Theatre

* Bristol - Rally 11:30am Transport House

* Leeds - Rally 11am Leeds Art Gallery

* Cardiff - Rally 11am Temple of Peace, Cathays Park

Further details including maps and directions can be found by following this link: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/national-pay-campaign/10-november--strike-day-events.cfm

More detail on the expected impact of the strike is as follows:

The Department for Work and Pensions, which includes Jobcentres, the Pension Service and benefits.

Some offices will be closed, jobseeker interviews cancelled and delays in the public getting through on the phone.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency

We anticipate that approximately 8 or 9 of the UK's 19 rescue co-ordination centres will be closed.

The Driving Standards Agency

Driving Tests will be cancelled across the country

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs

Some offices will be closed, tax and Vat appointments cancelled helplines such as tax credits will experience delays.

Ministry of Justice

Magistrates, Crown and County Courts will all be effected with some closing and sittings cancelled.

The Glasgow bombers trial is likely to be affected with the sitting either cancelled or held in judge's chambers.

Identity and Passports Service

Passport appointments are likely to be cancelled and delays and backlogs occurring

Metropolitan Police

Civilian staff, PCSO's and Houses of Parliament security staff will be on strike for the first time in over two decades.

Galleries and Museums

Staff at the country's national galleries and museums will be involved including the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate, Railway Museum and National Galleries Liverpool.

The Home Office

This includes the Border and Immigration Agency and will lead to delays in passengers clearing immigration and customs at a number of ports and airports.

The DVLA

People will find it difficult to get through on telephone lines.

The MoD, Department of Health, Department for Children Families and Schools, Office for National Statistics, National Archives, English Heritage and ACAS are amongst some of the other areas involved.

Key facts on civil service pay:

* 1 in 5 working for the civil service earn less than £15,000.

* Coastguards helping save lives earn just above the minimum wage.

* People helping people find work earn just 13p above the minimum wage.

* Over 40,000 working in jobcentres, benefits and pensions are getting no pay rise at all this year.

* A third of staff delivering passports are getting nothing too.

* Some of those delivering tax credits will see their wages rise to just 24p above the minimum wage.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

* For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 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 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 sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.