Palace of Westminster security staff to strike again on New Year’s Eve
The security staff’s fourth day of strike action threatens to disrupt a planned event by Speaker of the Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Over 300 PCS members who work in security at the Palace of Westminster will strike on 31 December in their ongoing dispute over a loss of annual leave, pay and terms and conditions.
The 24-hour strike follows previous action in September and November.
The strike on 31 December has already led to the cancellation of the Commons Terrace New Year’s Eve event and is expected to force Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, to cancel another function, a charity event, that evening.
As speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay is responsible for the parliamentary estate, but he has refused to intervene in the dispute or speak up for the strikers.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said:
“The employer has reduced members’ annual leave and incorrectly claimed that staff had agreed to it. This recent cash offer put to workers is nothing short of an insult.
“Our members want to negotiate but the Speaker won’t talk. Any MPs disappointed not to attend Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s charity event might think about donating to the branch’s strike fund instead.”