Fierce solidarity as strikes for sacked reps extended
HMRC members at Benton Park View add another four weeks to their eight-week strike.
After three PCS reps were fired by HMRC in early 2024, their union member colleagues have fought relentlessly for their re-instatement. Now, their eight week strike, which began on 23 December, is to be extended until 14 March.
PCS’s national disputes committee agreed to extend the strike yesterday for members who work in the HMRC Employer Services team at the site in Newcastle. The union has lobbied a group of 15 MPs and is providing the reps with financial support and legal representation, logging claims of unfair dismissal and ‘trade union detriment’ with the Employment Tribunal. One of the three reps, Joel Hamilton, says:
"I want to extend my, Rachel and Gordon’s sincere gratitude to our members for their amazing, continued support. We would’ve hoped the employer would have come to the table to try and resolve this by now. It’s disappointing that it has come to further industrial action."
Branch vice chair and colleague Angie Foggett says:
"I find it incredibly sad that we are where we are today. It’s 2025 - you would have thought that unions would not have to engage in industrial action to get an employer to acknowledge their mistakes and do the right thing.
“However, here we are - extending our campaign of strike action. The strike action will now continue without break to 14 March. Our members’ support has been incredible and we are eternally grateful.
“Our resilience is strong. Make no mistake, we are in this for the long haul.”
Reps Gordon Askew and Rachel Farmer were sacked last year after organising strike action as part of PCS’s successful national campaign for improved pay. Joel Hamilton, a rep in the surge and rapid response team, was also dismissed in another instance of victimisation.
In 2017, another rep on site was sacked for computer-related reasons but reinstated after HMRC lost its case.
PCS calls for HMRC managers to resolve this dispute and commit to ending union victimisation. Take action, show your support and send solidarity messages to the reps and branch, email HMRC group secretary Steve Swainston: steves@pcs.org.uk.