U.K.
Members of the PCS central government union have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in over 120 areas of government activity. The average majority “yes” vote of over 86% is the highest in the union’s history. The union is calling for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms. With no response from the government on these issues PCS has agreed an initial programme of targeted action in the ministries covering ports, borders and all areas of transport among others. Meanwhile, more health workers in range of areas including blood and transplant services are being balloted by the Unite union whose members in the ambulance service in Scotland were due to begin industrial action – an overtime ban and work to rule – from 25 November. Earlier in the week, a second wave of strikes in universities began, involving both teaching and non-teaching staff, protesting at the employers’ failure to increase 3% pay offer. Firefighters have also rejected a pay offer (5%) in a consultative ballot and will now vote in a ballot for industrial action, opening on 5 December and running to 23 January.
