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Civil servants to strike over pay and pensions Civil servants strike over pay and pensions
(about 20 hours later)
Civil servants from government departments, courts and driving test centres are to strike on Friday over pay, pensions and terms and conditions. Civil servants from government departments and driving test centres have taken part in a strike over pay, jobs and terms and conditions.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will stage a half-day strike across many areas including Whitehall and museums. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said the half-day strike across caused "massive disruption".
A strike on Monday by Home Office and UK Border Agency staff was called off after a government legal challenge. The union said the dispute is to be escalated, with a week of strikes at the Home Office and UK Border Agency.
The Home Office says it has urged the PCS to reconsider Friday's strike. Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said the government's contingency plans had "worked well".
The walkout is part of a three-month long campaign of industrial action, which began with a strike on Budget day last month. The walkout is part of a three-month campaign of industrial action and started with a strike on the day of the Budget.
The Driving Standards Agency said it was working to ensure that tests go ahead as planned on Friday and asked candidates to arrive for their test as usual. Out-of-pocket expenses will be paid if a test is cancelled. 'Solidly supported'
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the strikes were part of a continuing campaign of industrial action and protests "to put pressure on a government that is refusing to even talk to us". PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told a rally outside the Cabinet Office in Westminster that a week of strikes will be launched at the Home Office and UK Border Agency from 15 April, with different groups of workers taking action at different times.
He added: "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 Home Office said it had not yet received any official notification of the proposed additional action.
"We have asked for talks but ministers and senior officials have refused, so we are taking action to oppose and shine a light on what are deeply unfair and unnecessary cuts to the living standards of hard-working public servants." Mr Serwotka said: "These walkouts have been very solidly supported and show the depth of anger hard-working public servants feel at having their living standards cut.
A PCS spokesman also said the government legally challenged Monday's strike because less than seven days' notice was given. "We warned the Home Office and UKBA that their belligerent approach would only serve to escalate the dispute and we are now planning a longer series of strikes that will cause even more disruption.
And that strike by the union members at the Home Office and UK Border Agency had already been rescheduled from Friday to Monday after they had been told they would be docked a full day's pay for a half-day strike. "These walkouts are part of an ongoing campaign of industrial action and protests to put pressure on a government that is refusing to even talk to us."
The Home Office said it has "robust contingency plans in place to ensure any industrial action has minimal impact on operations". 'Contingency plans'
Staff at the Home Office and UK Border Agency did not join the stoppage following a legal challenge by the government.
Thousands of PCS members at HM Revenue and Customs will go on strike on Monday as part of the rolling programme of action.
Mr Maude thanked the "overwhelming majority of committed public sector workers" who he said had "remained at work today to deliver essential services. We are grateful for their dedication".
He added: "Our figures show that only 40,793 civil servants heeded PCS' call to strike this afternoon - which represents less than 10% of the civil service.
"Our rigorous contingency plans have worked well. Throughout the day they have limited the impact of the strike significantly and as a result the majority of key public services have remained open.
"Talk of further strike action is disappointing - now is the time for us all to work together to ensure we can deliver exceptional public services, support growth and build the economy."