PCS to re-ballot 124,000 civil servants for strike action
The move, agreed today by the union’s national executive, could see members’ strike mandate renewed for another six months from May in 186 government departments.
The ballot will run from March 20 to May 9 and will include members in all departments previously balloted in 2022, with a small number of exceptions, including those currently being balloted whose results are due on Tuesday (February 28)*. The union's current six--month legal mandate for strike action in 124 groups expires on May 6.
PCS members have been taking sustained, targeted strike action since last year in a national campaign over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.
Workers at the Land Registry and DVLA next week (February 27) begin strike action, and on March 15 100,000 civil servants will take strike action, with many attending a rally in central London.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We’re sending a very clear signal to ministers that we’re not backing down in the pursuit of a fair deal for our members.
“The pressure is building on ministers. They’re being forced to talk to us, to listen to our concerns, and they now know we’re looking at escalating our strike action beyond May, unless they make concessions.
“Our members deserve a fair pay rise and we will not stop our campaign until ministers put money on the table.”
ends
* British Library, Care Quality Commission, Companies House, HMRC, National Museum of Wales, Office of Rail and Road, UK Export Finance, VOA and Welsh Government.