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Civil servants strike over cuts Civil servants strike over cuts
(about 3 hours later)
Public services across the country are expected to suffer as up to 200,000 civil servants stage a one-day walkout. A strike by thousands of civil servants is threatening to disrupt public services from tax returns to benefits.
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said action may disrupt the running of courts, job centres, passport offices driving test centres. Members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are walking out over plans to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs.
The Welsh Assembly is also expected to be closed for the day. PCS head Mark Serwotka said strikers were not "high flying mandarins" but people doing everyday jobs, some earning just above minimum wage.
The union said the strike was in response to Chancellor Gordon Brown's decision in July 2004 to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs in the UK. The action may disrupt courts, passport offices, job and driving test centres.
Striking workers are expected to picket government offices across the UK and join rallies and demonstrations. The Welsh Assembly is also expected to be closed for the day, as workers picket government offices and join rallies across the UK.
PCS boss Mark Serwotka said the strike illustrated the "depth of anger over the damage crude job cuts are having and the growing frustration over below inflation pay offers". 'Taken for granted'
"Far from having gold-plated terms and conditions, thousands of civil servants earn just above the minimum wage," he said. Mr Serwotka said: "Those on strike today aren't faceless bureaucrats or high flying mandarins, but people at the heart of public services providing the everyday things we take for granted from passports, tax and benefits to driving tests and courts.
'Unnecessary' strike "Today's strike illustrates the depth of anger over the damage crude job cuts are having and the growing frustration over below inflation pay offers."
He called on the government to give assurances over jobs, services and privatisation as well as making serious headway in tackling pay inequalities and low pay - or face further action. The union wants guarantees that a decision to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs will not be achieved through compulsory redundancies.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said there was "absolutely no need" for the strike. At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change Pat McFaddenCabinet Office minister
He said the government valued civil servants highly, but no organisation could be immune from the need to change. Mr Serwotka also said thousands of civil servants earned just above the minimum wage, and called for government assurances over jobs, services and privatisation as well as pay inequalities.
"There is an established process through which unions can raise any issues of concern they have with these changes without going on strike," said Mr McFadden. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said there was "absolutely no need" for the strike and only one civil service union had chosen to do so.
A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said strikes did nothing to help union members or customers. He said civil servants were highly valued and did a "great job" for the public.
'End the scandal'
But he added: "At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change, both to ensure value for money for the public and to adapt to new technology."
He said unions could go through "an established process" to raise concerns without going on strike, and said departments would do what they could to minimise its effect on important services.
A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said it provided services for vulnerable people, including those in debt, which could be jeopardised by a strike.
"Strikes or working to rule help no one - not union members or our customers," he said.
But Labour MP John McDonnell, chairman of the PCS Parliamentary Group said he would join people on the picket line to defend jobs and "end the scandal of low pay in the civil service".