Met Police staff vote for strike action over return to offices

In the industrial action ballot that closed yesterday (10) 85% of members who voted said yes to taking strike action and 91% voted for action short of a strike.

It is the first time Met Police employees have ever voted for industrial action and shows the depth of feeling after managers reversed the existing agreement on blended working that allowed them to work from home part of the week.

The new policy which forces members back to the office for between 60 and 100%, affects 2,400 civilians who support the day-to-day work of police officers. It disproportionately impacts women, part-time workers and those with disabilities.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are not bobbies on the beat. They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.

“It’s time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people.”