Massive PCS Strikes Rock Civil Service This April
Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, has warned ministers: his members are not backing down. A series of strikes will hit the civil service all month, climaxing in an “all-out” strike day on April 28.
The PCS executive committee greenlit the walkouts on Monday. From today until the end of April, civil servants—including passport office workers—will strike. Passport staff are set to walk out for a whopping five weeks, until May 6.
But that’s not all. Ofgem workers in Canary Wharf and 1 are also joining the battle, striking for six days from April 10 to 17.
Union Demands Cash or Chaos
Serwotka slammed ministers for ignoring rising tensions: “They must recognise that we are escalating our actions and must resolve this dispute by putting money on the table.”
The PCS insists the strikes have already caused major disruption, and warns the upcoming walkouts plus a new national day of action will pile on the pressure. “The government refuses to listen,” Serwotka said.
Teachers’ Union Slams Pay Offer as ‘Insulting’
Meanwhile, the National Education Union (NEU) has urged teachers to reject the government’s latest pay offer. Ministers have proposed a £1,000 one-off payment for the 2022/23 school year, plus a 4.3% ongoing pay rise for most teachers in 2023/24—an increase claimed to be fully funded.
But the union warns that to fund this sweetener, up to 58% of schools would have to slash budgets next year.
The NEU launched a ballot today asking members to vote on the deal. Joint general secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney labelled the offer “insulting,” accusing the government of failing to value teachers.
“We have a government and education secretary ignoring the crisis in schools and colleges,” the duo said.
With strikes brewing and anger mounting across the public sector, this dispute is set to escalate fast.
