Strike at HM Revenue and Customs

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/30/strike-at-hm-revenue-and-customs

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Tax workers have started a series of fresh strikes in a long-running dispute over job losses and office closures.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will take part in walkouts over the next three days, threatening disruption to the work of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The union claims that years of job cuts have led to backlogs and delays as well as the use of private debt collectors.

The union is campaigning against the closure of enquiry centres and the loss of 2,000 jobs.

Strikes are being held across Wales and north-west England on Wednesday, Scotland and the Midlands on Thursday, and London, the south-east, south-west and east of England, Yorkshire and Humberside and Northern Ireland on Friday.

The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: “These strikes demonstrate we are serious about stopping these damaging cuts and making a positive case for proper investment in this crucial department.”

The union said the strikes were timed to coincide with the deadline for tax credit renewals and a key date for self-assessment payments.

A HMRC spokesperson said: “We are very disappointed by the timing of the decision by PCS to call a strike to coincide with the tax credits renewals deadline.

The walkouts follow a series of rolling stoppages last month.