Disruption as Lanarkshire civil servants stage one-day strike over pay

Apr 30 2008

HUNDREDS of civil servants across Lanarkshire took part in a one-day strike last Thursday.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the action was prompted by a dispute over low and unfair pay.

Workers including driving examiners, job centre and immigration workers walked out as part of a widespread day of action involving over 100,000 PCS members throughout the UK, along with teachers and lecturers in England and Wales.

Job centres and pensions offices across the country operated with a skeleton staff, causing disruption.

Over 90 per cent. of Lanarkshire’s PCS members working for the Department of Work and Pensions stayed away from their work after they were offered a below-inflation pay offer.

Hamilton’s Job Centre Plus office in Almada Street operated with a skeleton staff, mainly made up of senior management.

The majority of staff at Motherwell’s Pension Centre in Airbles Road also took part in the action by staying away from work.

Jackie Burns, Chair of the Motherwell Pension Centre’s PCS Union branch said: “Management will paint a very different picture but the strike was yet another success.

“With 92 per cent. of workers from across Lanarkshire taking part, our offices were manned by mainly senior managers.

“Hopefully, we are set for more dicussions next week with our employers but the action should let them know that we are very much a solid union.”

The strike follows on from last month’s action by members of the PCS Union, who staged a two-day walk-out over pay.

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