Around 100,000 civil servants will strike on 1 February in a worsening dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, the Public and Commercial Services union has announced.
It will be the largest civil service strike for years and coincides with the TUC’s “protect the right to strike day” announced yesterday.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “During the last month, when thousands of PCS members across a range of departments took sustained industrial action, the government said it had no money.
“But it managed to find millions of pounds to spend on managers and military personnel in a failed attempt to cover the vital work our members do.
“We warned the government our dispute would escalate if they did not listen – and we’re as good as our word. We will not stand by as hardline Tory MPs like Richard Drax tell our hard-working members they should be grateful to have jobs.”
Mr Serwotka revealed he is meeting with Jeremy Quinn, the minister for the cabinet office, tomorrow and said “if he puts some money on the table there is a chance this dispute can be resolved”.
“If he doesn’t, then he’ll see public services from benefits to driving tests, from passports to driving licences, from ports to airports affected by industrial action on February 1.”
