Civil servants stage one-day strike

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 20 Maret 2013 | 19.21

20 March 2013 Last updated at 03:59 ET

Civil servants are staging a strike over pay and pensions to coincide with Budget day.

The Public and Commercial Services union says up to 250,000 of its members at government departments and bodies are involved in the walkout, which will also hit job centres and tax offices.

The PCS, which has begun a three-month campaign of action, says ministers have refused to negotiate over cuts.

The Cabinet Office has called the action "futile" and "irresponsible".

A rally will be held by the PCS in Westminster during the chancellor's Budget speech.

Picket lines are to be mounted outside government offices, museums, galleries and the Houses of Parliament.

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Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on"

End Quote Mark Serwotka PCS general secretary

The PCS has also called a half-day strike on 5 April as part of its three-month campaign.

All business in the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday has been cancelled because Labour and Plaid members will not cross a picket line.

Border patrols and courts will also be affected.

PCS members - who include customs, immigration, benefits and Jobcentre staff - want a 5% pay rise, or £1,200.

A campaign against tax avoidance and evasion is also at the heart of the action.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said it was not a one-day protest but "the start of a rolling programme of walkouts and disruptive action to put pressure on a government" which he said was refusing to talk to the trade union.

He said: "Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on but, instead of rewarding them, the government is imposing cuts to their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their basic working conditions."

'Contingency plans'

Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are also set to strike on Wednesday over pay.

"Our members at HCA are showing solidarity with their HCA colleagues in PCS against the savage attack by the coalition on public services and those dedicated staff that deliver them," said its general secretary, Len McCluskey.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the strike was "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible".

He said ministers were doing all they could to minimise the impact of this action, adding that "rigorous contingency plans" were in place across all sectors "to ensure that all affected public services operate as effectively as possible".

"The course of action chosen by PCS benefits no-one, but threatens services people rely on, at a time when we should all be working together to support growth and build the economy," said Mr Maude.


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