Over 100,000 Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working across 10 government departments and agencies will be on strike at the same time as other public sector workers, including teachers and lecturers in a one day strike on 24 April in protest at the government's policy to cap public sector pay to below inflation, which will result in cuts to living standards across the civil service.
The announcement follows today's strongly supported strike by Coastguards over pay levels that fall way behind those paid to other emergency services and the government's policy of capping pay increases to below inflation. Today's industrial action hit emergency and 999 distress calls and led to the closure of nearly half of the UK's 19 rescue co-ordination centres. The remainder operated on a severely reduced service and were staffed by a handful of managers.
In addition to members in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), a number of departments and agencies, including driving examiners, immigration staff, jobcentre and benefits staff will be on strike over pay on 24 April. All are in dispute over below inflation pay offers with cost of living increases averaging 2% or less with a large number receiving 0%.
They are:
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- The Home Office
- The Department for Transport (DfT)
- The Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
- The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA),
- The Highways Agency,
- The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
- The Vehicle Certification Agency.
The Land Registry will also be striking for two hours on 24 April.
Pay in the civil service is among the lowest in the public sector with starting salaries just above the minimum wage and with a quarter of staff earning less than £16,000. With inflation running at over 4% staff are angry at the government imposed pay caps that are resulting in pay freezes and pay cuts in real terms.
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The massive show of support for today's coastguard strike illustrates the resolve of dedicated staff in achieving a fair deal on pay that recognises the important role they play and the rising costs of living they face. The government's discredited argument that public sector pay fuels inflation doesn't wash with independent economists and the hundreds of thousands of civil and public servants whose work is often taken for granted, yet touches our everyday lives. The government are alienating its own workforce by driving down the pay of some of the lowest paid in the public sector with a policy of below inflation pay caps and pay freezes. Unless the government changes direction and agrees to seriously tackle low pay, then 24 April will see over 100,000 civil and public servants coming together to demand the fair deal they deserve."
