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| Met Police civilian staff vote for strike action | |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| The new policy would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers | The new policy would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers |
| Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike over office working. | Metropolitan Police staff have voted to go on strike over office working. |
| A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action, with 85% of members who voted saying yes to taking strike action and 91% voting for action short of a strike. | A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) ballot showed overwhelming support for industrial action, with 85% of members who voted saying yes to taking strike action and 91% voting for action short of a strike. |
| The PCS said it showed the depth of feeling after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home part of the week. | The PCS said it showed the depth of feeling after managers reversed an existing agreement on blended working that allowed staff to work from home part of the week. |
| The new policy, which the union says requires staff to work in the office for between 60% and 100% of the time, would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers. | The new policy, which the union says requires staff to work in the office for between 60% and 100% of the time, would affect 2,400 people who support the day-to-day work of police officers. |
| 'Not bobbies on the beat' | 'Not bobbies on the beat' |
| The PCS said the policy "disproportionately impacts" women, part-time workers and those with disabilities. | The PCS said the policy "disproportionately impacts" women, part-time workers and those with disabilities. |
| According to the union, it is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action. | According to the union, it is the first time Met Police employees have voted for industrial action. |
| The Met Police previously said staff had been asked to increase their time in the office, to support the front line and improve public trust. | The Met Police previously said staff had been asked to increase their time in the office, to support the front line and improve public trust. |
| Scotland Yard is yet to respond to the BBC's request for comment but a Metropolitan Police spokesperson is quoted in the Telegraph, external saying: "Our plans will provide consistency across the Met and ensure we can deliver for our communities. | Scotland Yard is yet to respond to the BBC's request for comment but a Metropolitan Police spokesperson is quoted in the Telegraph, external saying: "Our plans will provide consistency across the Met and ensure we can deliver for our communities. |
| "Although the threshold for strike action has been met, it doesn't have to go ahead and we urge our staff and the union not to take further action." | "Although the threshold for strike action has been met, it doesn't have to go ahead and we urge our staff and the union not to take further action." |
| PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are not bobbies on the beat. | PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are not bobbies on the beat. |
| "They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute." | "They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute." |
| She added: "It's time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people." | She added: "It's time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people." |
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