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Civil servants strike over cuts Civil servants strike over cuts
(about 3 hours later)
A strike by thousands of civil servants is threatening to disrupt public services from tax returns to benefits. Thousands of civil servants are on strike, disrupting court cases, driving tests and other services.
Members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are walking out over plans to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs. The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) says up to 200,000 of its members throughout the UK have walked out in a row about job cuts and pay.
PCS head Mark Serwotka said strikers were not "high-flying mandarins" but people doing everyday jobs, some earning just above minimum wage. The strike shut Woolwich Crown Court, interrupting the trial of the alleged 2005 London bomb plot, closed galleries at the Tate and disrupted tax offices.
The action may disrupt courts, passport offices, job and driving test centres. The government said it valued staff but it had ensure value for money.
The Welsh Assembly is also expected to be closed for the day, as workers picket government offices and join rallies across the UK. A PCS spokesman told the BBC News website indications were that the strike was at least as well supported as the last walkout in 2004, where up to 200,000 members took part.
'Taken for granted' Galleries shut
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. Debates at the Welsh Assembly have been cancelled, the reading rooms at the British Library are closed, and both the Tate Modern and Tate Britain have shut most of their galleries and displays.
"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." A spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs has said all its offices remain open and taxpayers would be able to return self-assessment forms - for which the deadline is Tuesday.
The strike is being well supported, and where offices are open they are manned by a skeleton staff Alex FlynnPCS union 23,000 on strike in Wales Scots join strike
He added: "There is the self-assessment helpline, and staff will be there to give advice."
But the union said managers had been forced to offer a much reduced service on one of its busiest days when hundreds of thousands of self-assessment forms are expected to be filed.
PCS spokesman Alex Flynn said: "The strike is being well supported, and where offices are open they are manned by a skeleton staff.
"If people want to get in to receive last-minute advice, they will not be able to. Where they have managed to keep offices open, they are being kept open by people who haven't dealt with the public for years."
'Faceless bureaucrats'
The union wants guarantees that a decision to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs will not be achieved through compulsory redundancies.The union wants guarantees that a decision to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs will not be achieved through compulsory redundancies.
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 Earlier PCS head Mark Serwotka said those affected were not "faceless bureaucrats or high flying mandarins", but people providing everyday services that were taken for granted - many of whom were paid just above the minimum wage.
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. "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."
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm striking today. Civil servant numbers have already been vastly cut and they are now talking about making further cuts Alison, Guildford Send us your comments
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.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.
He said civil servants were highly valued and did a "great job" for the public.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."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."
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm striking today. Civil servant numbers have already been vastly cut and they are now talking about making further cuts Alison, Guildford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5400&edition=1&ttl=20070130213856">Send us your comments 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. 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".
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".