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21/01/2004
Civil service union votes for strike action
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has confirmed today that its members had "voted strongly in favour" of industrial action in five government departments.
The union said that its members had voted to take action as a result of "below inflation pay offers" from employers. The go-ahead could now be given for strike action on January 29 and 30 should there be "no prospect of meaningful negotiation offered by senior departmental managers", a PCS spokesperson said.
Union members in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Prisons Service have already indicated that should there be no prospect of a negotiated settlement they will be going ahead with strike action on January 29 and 30, the union said.
Senior union officials in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Home Office and Treasury Solicitors Office are meeting today to confirm what action to take following the outcome of the ballots result.
The union accused departments of using "smoke and mirrors" in making this year’s pay offers "appear more than they were".
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “This is not a decision our members have taken lightly. We have sought and continue to find a solution through dialogue, but have come up against an increasingly belligerent management in a number of departments who seem hell bent on driving down pay.
"We are not talking about run away pay increases, we are talking about money which is there, money that can start to deal with the endemic problem of low pay in the civil service.”
The DWP has said that a package of countermeasures had been prepared that could swing into effect and soften the impact of strike action.
The department has said that any proposed strike action was unnecessary as a substantial offer was on the table – and that there was simply not enough money available to fund the wage demands of union members.
(gmcg)
The union said that its members had voted to take action as a result of "below inflation pay offers" from employers. The go-ahead could now be given for strike action on January 29 and 30 should there be "no prospect of meaningful negotiation offered by senior departmental managers", a PCS spokesperson said.
Union members in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Prisons Service have already indicated that should there be no prospect of a negotiated settlement they will be going ahead with strike action on January 29 and 30, the union said.
Senior union officials in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Home Office and Treasury Solicitors Office are meeting today to confirm what action to take following the outcome of the ballots result.
The union accused departments of using "smoke and mirrors" in making this year’s pay offers "appear more than they were".
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “This is not a decision our members have taken lightly. We have sought and continue to find a solution through dialogue, but have come up against an increasingly belligerent management in a number of departments who seem hell bent on driving down pay.
"We are not talking about run away pay increases, we are talking about money which is there, money that can start to deal with the endemic problem of low pay in the civil service.”
The DWP has said that a package of countermeasures had been prepared that could swing into effect and soften the impact of strike action.
The department has said that any proposed strike action was unnecessary as a substantial offer was on the table – and that there was simply not enough money available to fund the wage demands of union members.
(gmcg)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
