DWP members in Lincoln continue their strike action for a further two weeks

Members who work in the service centre are absolutely determined to fight to keep their jobs in Lincoln. As low paid workers they cannot afford to travel long distances to remain working in the DWP and they have been clear that redundancy is not an option for them.

DWP are refusing to back down on their announcement to close the Lincoln Service Centre, which could see over 80 members of staff face the risk of redundancy.

Members see little sense in closing the service centre, which DWP state is a cost-cutting measure. PCS has calculated that the cost of redundancy payments would pay rental for the office for 16 years. The cost of losing such experienced staff, at a time when DWP will be required to undertake significant transformation of the social security system, is immeasurable. Government and the DWP can simply not deliver significant transformation without experienced and committed staff.

PCS is calling on the DWP to urgently enter into negotiations to find an alternative solution to this dispute that doesn’t involve people being forced out of the DWP door and thrown on the scrap heap.