PCS members resume "caviar" strike

PCS members working for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Bristol and Carlisle today begin their second week of strike action in a move likely to affect caviar imports.

The strike at APHA is believed to have already caused delays for imports and exports, including caviar,ivory, plants, birds of prey, tortoises, reptiles, the luxury handbag trade, hunting trophies and taxidermy.

A PCS spokesperson said: “Ministers should be ashamed that while some members of society are bemoaning a lack of caviar on their dinner plates, 40,000 of their own workforce are using foodbanks.

“Our members should not be forced to choose between heating and eating – they should be paid a fair wage for the important work they do.”

The striking APHA workers join members at DVLA in Swansea and Birmingham who are tomorrow also beginning a second week of action, and others at the DWP in Liverpool and Toxteth who are partway through a 20-day strike.

 All three strikes are part of the union’s national campaign over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security, and follow this weekend’s action by Border Force officials in Dover, Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk that has caused six-hour delays for travellers.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “While we sympathise with travellers experiencing delays, the blame lies squarely with the government. Rishi Sunak has had months to resolve this dispute but refuses to meet us. He can end the strikes tomorrow if he puts some money on the table.

 "Until he does, our strikes will continue because it is unacceptable that hard-working civil servants are being told to accept just a 2% pay rise during a cost-of-living crisis when inflation is at 10%.”

 Workers at the Land Registry next week (February 27) begin a five-day strike, and on March 15 100,000 civil servants will take strike action.