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| Civil servants strike on budget day | Civil servants strike on budget day |
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| Thousands of civil servants across Britain are staging a 24-hour strike in an escalation of a dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions. | Thousands of civil servants across Britain are staging a 24-hour strike in an escalation of a dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions. |
| The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said up to 250,000 of its members would join the walkout, timed to coincide with the budget. | The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said up to 250,000 of its members would join the walkout, timed to coincide with the budget. |
| Disruption is expected at government departments, driving test centres, museums, galleries, jobcentres, tax offices, courts and border patrols at ports and airports. | Disruption is expected at government departments, driving test centres, museums, galleries, jobcentres, tax offices, courts and border patrols at ports and airports. |
| Other civil service unions such as the FDA and Prospect have expressed concern about morale and changes to pay and conditions but have not joined the PCS in the action. Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, has criticised the strike as counter-productive. | Other civil service unions such as the FDA and Prospect have expressed concern about morale and changes to pay and conditions but have not joined the PCS in the action. Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, has criticised the strike as counter-productive. |
| The Cabinet Office said 95,000 people had not turned up for work, not including those who work afternoon shifts. Maude said: "I can reassure the public that we are keeping essential services open. Our rigorous contingency plans are in place across all sectors and as a result there has been minimal impact on public services." | The Cabinet Office said 95,000 people had not turned up for work, not including those who work afternoon shifts. Maude said: "I can reassure the public that we are keeping essential services open. Our rigorous contingency plans are in place across all sectors and as a result there has been minimal impact on public services." |
| A PCS spokesman said of the government's figures of strikers: "This is a fantasy figure. The truth is, there's no way of knowing but we estimate around three-quarters of our members have been out." | A PCS spokesman said of the government's figures of strikers: "This is a fantasy figure. The truth is, there's no way of knowing but we estimate around three-quarters of our members have been out." |
| The PCS has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the government over pay and pensions, which worsened when the union accused ministers of attacking civil servants' working conditions. | The PCS has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the government over pay and pensions, which worsened when the union accused ministers of attacking civil servants' working conditions. |
| 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 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. |
| "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. Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on but, instead of rewarding them, the government is imposing cuts to their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their basic working conditions." | "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. Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on but, instead of rewarding them, the government is imposing cuts to their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their basic working conditions." |
| The union, which also represents staff in the passport agency, Metropolitan police, coastguard stations and parliament, accused ministers of refusing to negotiate. It has called a half-day strike on 5 April as part of a three-month campaign of action. | The union, which also represents staff in the passport agency, Metropolitan police, coastguard stations and parliament, accused ministers of refusing to negotiate. It has called a half-day strike on 5 April as part of a three-month campaign of action. |
| Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are also on strike over pay. Unite'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." | Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are also on strike over pay. Unite'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." |
| Maude condemned the strike as "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible". He said: "I want to reassure the public that the government is doing all we can to minimise the impact of this action. Rigorous contingency plans are in place across all sectors to ensure that all affected public services operate as effectively as possible. | Maude condemned the strike as "futile, counterproductive and irresponsible". He said: "I want to reassure the public that the government is doing all we can to minimise the impact of this action. 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." |
| Pickets were on duty outside the Office for National Statistics in London where the latest unemployment figures were being published. PCS members handed out leaflets that said the dispute was the most serious ever faced by the union. "We must take action to force the government to negotiate," said one of the pickets. | Pickets were on duty outside the Office for National Statistics in London where the latest unemployment figures were being published. PCS members handed out leaflets that said the dispute was the most serious ever faced by the union. "We must take action to force the government to negotiate," said one of the pickets. |
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