Passport staff in three day strike
22 July 2008
The three day stoppage, hitting the UK’s seven regional passport offices and 68 interview offices, will lead to the cancellation of passport interviews and delay the issuing of passports during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Passport staff are furious over the pay offer which leads to the longest serving passport staff receiving no pay rise at all for the fifth year in a row.
The pay offer worth only 2.5%, comes at the same time as nearly £50 million has been spent on consultants. Starting salaries in the IPS are as low as £13,109.
Staff are also angry over the prospect of office closures which could see the UK’s seven passport offices reduced three.
Plans have already been drawn up to close the Glasgow passport office which could see over 100 jobs go. The union fears that resources are being diverted from passport processing to the controversial introduction of ID cards.
The strike is the latest in a week of action which saw driving examiners, coastguards, Land Registry, Valuation Office Agency, Home Office and immigration staff take action last week over the government’s policy of below inflation pay in the public sector.
Last week also saw members of Unison and Unite working in local government strike for two days over below inflation pay.
The seven regional passport offices affected by the strike are: London, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Peterborough, Newport and Durham
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: “The closure of the Glasgow passport office and the threat to a further unnamed three is fuelling the anger over the government’s policy of below inflation pay.
"It is disgraceful that long serving passport staff should receive no pay rise for the fifth year in a row and that efficient hardworking staff should be rewarded with a pay cut in real terms.
“With food, fuel and housing cost soaring, the government’s policy of below inflation pay has further incensed a workforce uncertain about their future but passionate about the service they provide.
"Cuts, below inflation pay and the introduction of a new performance management system have all undermined morale.
"With a quarter of the civil service earning less than £16,500, the government need to recognise the impact its policies of below inflation pay and cuts are having on hardworking families.”
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