Thousands of HM Revenue and Customs members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) took part in a half-day strike yesterday, coinciding with the start of the new tax year.
The PCS began a three-month campaign of strike action in defence of pay, jobs and conditions on 20 March – Budget Day.
Workers at government departments, courts and museums were on strike last Friday, while 55,000 workers at call centres and face-to-face enquiry centres at HMRC were on strike until lunchtime yesterday.
At Euston Tower Revenue and Customs Enquiry Centre yesterday, PCS Euston Tower Branch Secretary, Anna Owens told News Line: ‘We’re striking because of increases in our pension contributions, a pay freeze and attacks on our terms and conditions.
‘We’re fundamentally fighting privatisation. We had a strike last Friday and it was felt if we came out today it would disrupt the new “real time information” PAYE system that’s being introduced.
‘All the unions should take action against this government.’
Branch organiser Dave Plummer added: ‘Today the government are attacking those in work and out of work, the disabled and retired.
‘Part of the attack is the attack on the civil service. We are taking industrial action because we haven’t had a pay rise for several years and because of a pay cut through increased pension contributions.
‘We need coordinated strike action with other unions. Everything the government is doing is about privatisation.’
There was a lively picket line outside the Department of Work and Pensions office in Norwich last Friday.
Dave Seagrave PCS secretary for Norfolk and Suffolk DWP said: ‘Over the last six years we have had a 20 per cent pay cut if you take account of inflation.
‘The clients are suffering the new sanctions regime and getting their money stopped. Crisis loans are going. It’s taking weeks to process claims.
‘There has to be a general strike. We have got a government which is making the biggest shift in wealth from the poor to the rich in history.
‘Millionaires are getting a tax cuts. It’s insanity. We have to bring this government down. There is no political representation in parliament. They all carry on the same as the Tories with the same rhetoric and the same cuts. We have to do a Greece. The whole country has to stop.’
PCS leader Mark Serwotka said: ‘Civil and public servants are working harder than ever to provide the services we all rely on but instead of rewarding them, the government is imposing cuts to their pay, raiding their pensions and trying to rip up their basic working conditions.’
