HMRC workers hold strike ballot in support of sacked reps
Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton were dismissed by HMRC earlier in the year and managers have refused to reinstate them
More than 200 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members working for HMRC at Benton Park View in Newcastle are to be balloted for strike action in defence of three sacked reps.
The elected PCS reps – Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton – were dismissed by HMRC earlier in the year and managers have refused to reinstate them.
Now their colleagues will vote on whether to take strike action in protest at their treatment.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “We believe the role Gordon, Rachel and Joel played in last year’s successful strike action at Benton Park View - demanding fair pay, pensions and jobs - is the real reason why they have been sacked.
“Local management has clearly decided to attack the branch, to try to make it harder for the union to organise action in the future.
“It’s not too late for HMRC managers to avoid strike action and the subsequent disruption to services if they do the decent thing and reinstate our reps.”
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