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| Passport office workers to strike for five weeks over pay dispute | Passport office workers to strike for five weeks over pay dispute |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| More than 1,000 Passport Office workers will go on strike for five weeks over a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions, unions say. | More than 1,000 Passport Office workers will go on strike for five weeks over a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions, unions say. |
| Members of the Public and Commercial Services union working across England, Scotland and Wales will take part in the action from 3 April to 5 May. | Members of the Public and Commercial Services union working across England, Scotland and Wales will take part in the action from 3 April to 5 May. |
| Those working in Belfast are being balloted and could join the strike. | Those working in Belfast are being balloted and could join the strike. |
| The union warned the action is likely to have a "significant impact" on the delivery of passports ahead of summer. | The union warned the action is likely to have a "significant impact" on the delivery of passports ahead of summer. |
| More than 4,000 people are employed by the Passport Office across the UK, meaning that according to the union figures around one in four workers will be walking out. | More than 4,000 people are employed by the Passport Office across the UK, meaning that according to the union figures around one in four workers will be walking out. |
| Strike action: What do rail workers, nurses and others want? | Strike action: What do rail workers, nurses and others want? |
| NHS 5% pay offer may end bitter dispute in England | NHS 5% pay offer may end bitter dispute in England |
| When are the next train strikes? | When are the next train strikes? |
| Who could have to work during a strike? | Who could have to work during a strike? |
| The offices affected in England, Scotland and Wales will include Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough and Southport. | The offices affected in England, Scotland and Wales will include Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough and Southport. |
| At peak times - including the month of April when the strike will take place - the Passport Office can receive 250,000 applications per week, according to travel expert Simon Calder. | At peak times - including the month of April when the strike will take place - the Passport Office can receive 250,000 applications per week, according to travel expert Simon Calder. |
| It means that more than one million applications could be sent during the strike period, he said. | It means that more than one million applications could be sent during the strike period, he said. |
| A UK adult passport is valid for 10 years, but if it is due to expire you may be refused entry into some countries. | A UK adult passport is valid for 10 years, but if it is due to expire you may be refused entry into some countries. |
| Most countries require the passport you are travelling with to be valid for the duration of your planned stay, but other countries - mainly ones where you need visas for entry - require a passport with a certain period of time left until the expiry date. Guidance for each country can be found on the government's foreign travel advice website. | Most countries require the passport you are travelling with to be valid for the duration of your planned stay, but other countries - mainly ones where you need visas for entry - require a passport with a certain period of time left until the expiry date. Guidance for each country can be found on the government's foreign travel advice website. |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the dispute was over an imposed 2% pay rise not being increased any further by the government. | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the dispute was over an imposed 2% pay rise not being increased any further by the government. |
| He added the strike action had come about because "ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months". | He added the strike action had come about because "ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months". |
| He said: "Their approach is further evidence they're treating their own workforce worse than anyone else. | He said: "Their approach is further evidence they're treating their own workforce worse than anyone else. |
| "They've had six months to resolve this dispute but for six months have refused to improve their 2% imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members' other issues of concern." | "They've had six months to resolve this dispute but for six months have refused to improve their 2% imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members' other issues of concern." |
| He went on to say that the government was "ignoring our members" over their pay concerns but this would not make them "go away". | He went on to say that the government was "ignoring our members" over their pay concerns but this would not make them "go away". |
| Last year, a watchdog found that hundreds of thousands of people were affected by passport processing delays as coronavirus travel restrictions were lifted. | |
| The National Audit Office said the Passport Office processed a "record number of applications" and warned that a similar demand was expected in 2023 - with up to 10 million applications potentially being submitted. | |
| BBC News has contacted the Home Office for a response. | BBC News has contacted the Home Office for a response. |
| The latest action from passport office workers comes after months of strikes over pay disputes in other sectors, such as rail workers, London Underground drivers, teachers, NHS staff, regional BBC journalists, university lecturers and civil servants. | The latest action from passport office workers comes after months of strikes over pay disputes in other sectors, such as rail workers, London Underground drivers, teachers, NHS staff, regional BBC journalists, university lecturers and civil servants. |
| On Thursday, unions representing healthcare workers in England agreed a final pay offer with the government - which if accepted by members at a vote would bring walkouts from nurses, ambulance crews, paramedics, hospital porters and other health workers to an end. | On Thursday, unions representing healthcare workers in England agreed a final pay offer with the government - which if accepted by members at a vote would bring walkouts from nurses, ambulance crews, paramedics, hospital porters and other health workers to an end. |
| A statement released by the government and healthcare unions said both sides believed the offer represented a "fair and reasonable settlement". | A statement released by the government and healthcare unions said both sides believed the offer represented a "fair and reasonable settlement". |
| The agreement does not apply to junior doctors as they are involved in a separate dispute with the government. | The agreement does not apply to junior doctors as they are involved in a separate dispute with the government. |
| Are you worried about the potential delays to passport processing? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you worried about the potential delays to passport processing? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| UK government | UK government |
| Passports | Passports |
| Strike action | Strike action |