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Passport workers strike over pay Pay strike 'disrupts' passports
(about 13 hours later)
Thousands of passport workers are to stage a 24-hour strike in a row over pay, which union officials say will severely disrupt passport applications. A strike by passport workers over a pay row caused "severe disruption" to the service, their union has claimed.
The Public and Commercial Services union said 2,500 staff would walk out in Liverpool, Peterborough, Durham, Belfast, London, Glasgow and Newport. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said 2,500 of its members supported the 24-hour walk-out.
The strike will be followed by a week-long work to rule. The union estimated the action prevented up to 30,000 passports being issued on Friday, with most appointments being cancelled.
The Identity and Passport Service said it was a quiet time of year and plans were in place to minimise disruption.The Identity and Passport Service said it was a quiet time of year and plans were in place to minimise disruption.
The strike, which was backed by members by 3-1, was called in protest at delays to a pay settlement. It will be followed by a week-long work-to-rule from Saturday.
A spokeswoman for the Passport Service said it was working hard on the pay deal.
Passport price risePassport price rise
The strike, which was backed by members by 3-1, was called in protest at delays to a pay settlement. Workers from London, Peterborough, Durham, Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newport all took part in the strike, said the PCS.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The staff on strike today have grown increasingly frustrated by the inaction of the employer and are growing increasingly concerned of a repeat of last year's experience when it took management over a year to make a formal pay offer. General secretary Mark Serwotka said the disruption caused by the strike action was "regrettable" but could have been avoided if managers had "made this year's pay deal a priority rather than cancelling negotiations".
"The magnificent show of support has illustrated the depth of anger over the delay in dealing with this year's pay," he said.
Earlier Mr Serwotka said staff were concerned they would see a repeat of last year's experience when it took management over a year to make a formal pay offer.
"Added to this is the fact that, at the same time as the cost of a passport has risen by 50% many staff members have seen their pay rise below the cost of inflation at a rate of just 1%.""Added to this is the fact that, at the same time as the cost of a passport has risen by 50% many staff members have seen their pay rise below the cost of inflation at a rate of just 1%."
He added: "If the Identity and Passport Service want to avoid further disruption then they need to start dealing with this year's pay claim as a matter of urgency." The Passport Service said: "Pay proposals have been formulated and we are working hard to progress this matter.
A spokeswoman for the Passport Service said: "Pay proposals have been formulated and we are working hard to progress this matter.
"We have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of potential industrial action on our customers. No offices will be closed.""We have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of potential industrial action on our customers. No offices will be closed."
BBC labour affairs correspondent Stephen Cape said the Treasury had still to decide how much cash was available for the pay settlement in a climate of tighter pubic spending.BBC labour affairs correspondent Stephen Cape said the Treasury had still to decide how much cash was available for the pay settlement in a climate of tighter pubic spending.
He said there were similar wage problems in 19 other government departments, one of which could prove the next flashpoint.He said there were similar wage problems in 19 other government departments, one of which could prove the next flashpoint.