Civil servants are set to strike in their thousands next month in protest of pay and jobs and pensions, according to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).
In a co-ordinated move across government departments including the Home Office and Department for Transport that aims to impact ports, borders, and mobility, civil servants are expected to walk out for a month starting from mid-December
Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said the that action had potential to cause “significant disruption” to people over the festive period.
“I hope people can travel this Christmas without disruption but that’s down to [the UK prime minister] Rishi Sunak.”
A walk out of thousands of officials working at borders and ports as well as those whose jobs involve issuing driving licences and tests is likely to form the initial action. These will include Defra’s rural payments agency, which takes responsibility for oversees payments to farmers.
In the weeks leading up to the decision, UK nurses voted to strike for the first time to demand better pay. Over months prior, rail workers staged walkouts, and last month university staff voted for industrial action to highlight the cost-of-living crisis.
Ahead of a meeting with minister for the Cabinet Office Jeremy Quin, Serwotka said the power remained with government to stop the planned actions.
“Instead of talking in soundbites, what the government really should do is say we are going to do something to stop the workers they employ using foodbanks over Christmas.”
Source: PA