Members’ resolve high on fourth day of joint action

6 June 2013

Regional strikes are taking place all week as staff in Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Valuations Office Agency support the national campaign to defend pay, jobs and conditions with thousands of our members staying away from work.

Today’s action took place in Wales and the south west of England.

Strong turnout

There has been a strong turnout in the south west with 85% of members walking out at HMRC offices in Bristol, Avonmouth, Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon.

The majority of staff at Bristol CCD and Bristol disability centres stayed away from, as they did at Horfield, Bedminster and Kingswood jobcentres, while on the coast at Weston-super-Mare jobcentre 70% of members were out.

There was good support shown by the public to members at Chippenham benefit centre where the turnout was 85% and at Bath Jobcentre Plus 82% of members stayed away from work.

In Bournemouth determination of members to do all they can to call on the government to enter in to talks on the fundamental issues of the dispute was shown by 85% of members at Holland House joining the action.

High turnouts

Across Wales a number of workplaces achieved high turnouts with nearly 2,000 members staying away from work at HMRC Cardiff – Ty Glas where morale was kept high with a breakfast barbecue on the picket line.

There was great support elsewhere with 93% of members walking out at the HMRC office in Wrexham and 90% turnouts at those in Colwyn Bay and Porthmadog.

Managers had to cover the work of enquiry centre staff in Swansea with 90% of members staying awayfrom work at the High Street office. Reps from the DWP Swansea Pension Centre came over to show their support, along with two trades council activists from other unions, and Christine Richards the deputy leader of Swansea Council.

There was an excellent response from members at Penarth jobcentre with almost total support for action, and at Newport jobcentre only eight staff went in to work. At Cwmbran pension centre there was a 70% turnout and two keen members expressed a desire to become reps.

Members are joining rallies in Cardiff and Bristol today.

Further action

Rounding off the week of joint action tomorrow are VOA, DWP and HMRC members in Scotland and English eastern region with rallies taking place in Glasgow, Dundee and Southend.

Send messages of solidarity to solidarity@pcs.org.uk