Birmingham civil servants to strike over office closures
Civil servants working in a Government department will go on strike from Tuesday in a dispute over issues including office closures.
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Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government based in Newcastle will walk out from April 22 to May 2, while those working in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Truro and Warrington will strike for four days.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “It’s high time the Government and the ministry began to listen to their staff and put an end to these reckless, regressive decisions to close local offices while rigidly enforcing mandatory office attendance.
“They should start thinking strategically, considering the vital projects that local offices deliver for our communities, and enhancing flexibility to allow staff to choose how and where they perform their jobs in a manner that benefits both them and the communities we serve.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We have engaged with unions and staff about a number of proposals – including plans to expand five offices outside of London and close six offices over the next two years, as leases come to an end.
“The department will continue to have offices in every English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all staff affected will be able to continue in their roles.”
