National Civil Service strike - January 31, UK
(31 January, 2007) EPSU affiliate PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) will today stage a massive action in protest at the UK Government plans to slash thousands of public administration jobs. EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that: “this action, and tellingly the support it is receiving from the general public, is a clear message to the UK Government that enough is enough”. She added that: “across the European Union more and more actions are taking place which underline the basic desire to see public services celebrated, not crushed”.
77.9% of PCS members voted in favour of action short of a strike as key services continue to suffer as a result of the government’s drive to cut 100,000 civil and public service jobs. The first stoppage will be a one-day strike today, on 31 January 2007. The industrial action will impact on over 200 government departments, agencies and non departmental public bodies including, jobcentres, benefit offices, passports, driving exams, the Ministry of Defence, courts service and national museums and galleries. Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "This overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action illustrates the depth of anger amongst the government’s own workforce against crude job cuts and below inflation pay offers. Patience has worn thin with services suffering as a result of job cuts, billions being spent on private sector consultants and some of the lowest paid facing a pay cut in real terms”.
For more info please go to www.pcs.org.uk
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