Civil servants have voted to strike in the highest percentage vote in The Public and Commercial Services Union’s (PCS) history.
The PCS ballot for strike action related to pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms and closed on Monday 7 November.
Approximately 100,000 civil servants represented by the union have voted yes – this includes Border Force officials, passport workers and Jobcentre workers.
The 50% turnout threshold required by law for strike action was reached by 126 employee areas, meaning industrial action will now be held.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The government must look at the huge vote for strike action across swathes of the civil service and realise it can no longer treat its workers with contempt.
“Our members have spoken, and if the government fails to listen to them, we’ll have no option than to launch a prolonged programme of industrial action reaching into every corner of public life.”
Members of the public have also been quick to react on social media.
One said: “My mum and dad are both in this union so I know from them how hard it is to work in the civil service at the minute, full solidarity with the PCS.”
They will take action for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no redundancy cuts. PCS has sent a letter to the Cabinet Office demanding meaningful negotiations on this.
Unless this can be agreed then a programme of industrial action will be agreed with the union providing financial support to it’s members during this time.
Delegates at the PCS annual conference in May backed plans for action with menus continuing to face an unprecendented cost-of-living and government plans to cut 91,000 civil service jobs.
