Strike dates announced for PHSO members.
All members at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman will walk out on 12 February followed by a week of targeted strike action.
PCS members at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman last week voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay, a compulsory return to the office and proposals that could see extra responsibilities delegated to more junior staff without any extra pay.
Around 200 workers, who investigate complaints about the NHS and other UK government bodies, will strike for one day on 12 February.
This will be followed by a week of targeted action from 24-28 February.
The 40 plus members taking part in the week of targeted strike action, based mainly in Manchester, do a range of administrative tasks relating to new and ongoing complaints and investigations, manage the helpline and triaging and assessing new cases. The strike action is likely to lead to backlogs and disruption.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman could end this dispute tomorrow by delivering a fairer pay offer, improving working conditions and ending its radically unpopular office attendance policy.”
"The employer has not only failed to pay our members the 5% they deserve. It has also issued a 40% office attendance diktat, providing no evidence that forcing our members into the office will make them more productive.
“If the employer wants to avoid large backlogs of complaints against government bodies and the NHS, they can talk to us to address our members’ concerns.”
Picket line details will be published shortly.