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Civil servants strike on budget day Civil servants strike on budget day
(about 3 hours later)
Civil servants in government departments, driving test centres, museums and galleries will stage a 24-hour strike on budget day in a bitter row over pay, pensions and working conditions. Civil servants in government departments, driving test centres, museums and galleries will stage a 24-hour strike on budget day in a bitter row over pay, pensions and working conditions.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said up to 250,000 of its members will join the walkout on Wednesday, which will also hit jobcentres, tax offices, border patrols at ports and airports, and courts. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said up to 250,000 of its members would join the walkout on Wednesday, which will also hit jobcentres, tax offices, border patrols at ports and airports, and courts.
All business in the Welsh assembly has been cancelled because Labour and Plaid members will not cross a picket line. All business in the Welsh assembly has been cancelled because Labour and Plaid members will not cross a picket line.
The union has also called a half-day strike on 5 April as part of a three-month long campaign of action. The union has also called a half-day strike on 5 April as part of a three-month campaign of action.
Picket lines will be mounted outside government offices, museums, galleries and parliament. A rally will be held in Westminster while the budget is being delivered by the chancellor, George Osborne.Picket lines will be mounted outside government offices, museums, galleries and parliament. A rally will be held in Westminster while the budget is being delivered by the chancellor, George Osborne.
The union has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the government over pay and pensions, which worsened when the PCS accused ministers of attacking working conditions of civil servants.The union has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the government over pay and pensions, which worsened when the PCS accused ministers of attacking working conditions of civil servants.
The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: "This is not a one-day protest, this is the start of a rolling programme of walkouts and disruptive action to put pressure on a government that is refusing to talk to us. The union's general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: "This is not a one-day protest, this is the start of a rolling programme of walkouts and disruptive action to put pressure on a government that is refusing to talk to us.
"We warned more than two years ago that austerity wouldn't work and we were right. There is an alternative to cutting the living standards of hard-working public servants and our campaign is designed to make the case loud and clear."We warned more than two years ago that austerity wouldn't work and we were right. There is an alternative to cutting the living standards of hard-working public servants and our campaign is designed to make the case loud and clear.
The union, which also represents staff in the passport agency, Metropolitan police, coastguard stations and parliament, accused ministers of refusing to negotiate.The union, which also represents staff in the passport agency, Metropolitan police, coastguard stations and parliament, accused ministers of refusing to negotiate.
Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will also be on strike on Wednesday over pay. Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will also be on strike on Wednesday over pay. The union's general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: "Our members at HCA are showing solidarity with their HCA colleagues in PCS against the savage attack by the coalition on public services and those dedicated staff that deliver them.
The union's general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: "Our members at HCA are showing solidarity with their HCA colleagues in PCS against the savage attack by the coalition on public services and those dedicated staff that deliver them.
"The anger is growing at the negative dead end economic and social policies of this rightwing government – from the easy ride that the City elite receives from George Osborne to the gross unfairness of the hated bedroom tax which will hit 650,000 people.""The anger is growing at the negative dead end economic and social policies of this rightwing government – from the easy ride that the City elite receives from George Osborne to the gross unfairness of the hated bedroom tax which will hit 650,000 people."
The Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, condemned the strike as "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible".The Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, condemned the strike as "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible".
"I want to reassure the public that the government is doing all we can to minimise the impact of this action," he said. "I want to reassure the public that the government is doing all we can to minimise the impact of this action," he said. "Rigorous contingency plans are in place across all sectors to ensure that all affected public services operate as effectively as possible.
"Rigorous contingency plans are in place across all sectors to ensure that all affected public services operate as effectively as possible.
"The course of action chosen by PCS benefits no one, but threatens services people rely on, at a time when we should all be working together to support growth and build the economy."The course of action chosen by PCS benefits no one, but threatens services people rely on, at a time when we should all be working together to support growth and build the economy.