Around 100,000 civil servants to strike on same day in major escalation

11 January 2023 , 17:15

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PCS union represents civil servants across Government (Image: Getty Images)

Around 100,000 civil servants will stage a 24-hour strike on the same day next month in a major escalation of the bitter dispute.

Workers at 124 Government departments are expected to walkout - disrupting airports and public services including benefits, passports, and driving licences.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it will be the largest civil service strike for years in the row over pay, pensions, and conditions.

A further 33,000 members working in five more departments, including HM Revenue & Customs, are next week re-balloting to join the strike action.

General Secretary Mark Serworka said: "We warned the Government our dispute would escalate if they did not listen - and we're as good as our word."

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PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the Government was warned the dispute would escalate 'if they did not listen' (Reach Commissioned)

He added: "We will not stand by as hardline Tory MPs like Richard Drax tell our hard-working members they should be grateful to have jobs."

Mr Serwotka will tomorrow meet with Jeremy Quinn, a Cabinet Office minister, and said: "If he puts some money on the table there is a chance this dispute can be resolved."

But he warned: "If he doesn’t, then he’ll see public services from benefits to driving tests, from passports to driving licences, from ports to airports affected by industrial action on February 1.”

Last month staff at the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Border Force took action, with the army forced to stand in at UK airports.

The industrial action - on February 1 - will also coincide with the Trade Union Congress's "protect the right to strike day" over new draconian curbs.

Earlier this week the Govenrment unveiled controverisal legislation to introduce minimum service levels for key public services during industrial action.

The TUC's General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Unions will fights these plans every step of the way – including through parliament and through the courts.

“On February the 1st will we hold events across the country against this spiteful new bill – which is unworkable and almost certainly illegal."

Ashley Cowburn