Land Registry workers announce indefinite industrial action

Thousands of Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members working for the Land Registry are to take indefinite industrial action after being ordered back to the office for three days a week.

The nearly 4,000 workers based in 14 offices* across England and Wales are also concerned about the employer inappropriately using personal data and having to accept extra responsibilities without extra pay.

Starting from January 21 they will refuse to cover for their colleagues or take on extra work outside their job description or grade.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members at the Land Registry are disappointed the employer imposed changes to their working conditions without prior agreement.

“We call on management to work with us to find a solution that’s fair and acceptable to our members. It would cost them nothing and might help Land Registry regain some of the goodwill required to make progress in clearing the huge backlogs of work.”

PCS members working at the Office of National Statistics have already voted for strike action over compulsory office attendance. Members at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are campaigning for a four-day week after research showed it could deliver £20m+ savings a year. Members at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are also campaigning for a four-day week and, on Monday, members at the Metropolitan Police began indefinite industrial action over instructions to go into the office on additional unnecessary days.

ends

• Croydon, Birkenhead, Coventry, Durham, Lancashire, Gloucester, Hull, Leicester, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Telford, Wales, Weymouth