‘If the government don’t give us what we want we will take this campaign further,’ PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka pledged to a packed London rally of striking civil servants yesterday.
The rally followed a 1,000-strong march from the Treasury.
Yesterday’s national strike drew massive support from 280,000 civil and public servants, causing widespread disruption across the UK and leading to the postponement of court cases, cancellation of driving tests, disruption of tax returns and the closure of museums, galleries and government offices.
Many more than expected joined the strike and more civil and public servants signed up to join the PCS union, after being angered by letters from Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell and other department heads, threatening staff who strike with disciplinary action.
The one-day stoppage involving PCS members across 200 government departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies is part of a campaign over the government’s programme to axe 100,000 civil and public service jobs, drive down pay, and its dogmatic insistence on outsourcing and privatising services.
The one-day strike is being followed by a two-week overtime ban.
Opening the rally, PCS vice-president, Glenys Morris, said: ‘The majority of our members are paid so poorly, treated so badly, they rely on tax credits.
‘That’s disgusting from a Labour Britain of 2007.
‘Today we are saying enough is enough – no more job cuts, no more low pay.’
PCS leader Serwotka told the London rally: ‘The massive show of support today demonstrates the level of anger and frustration that has built up amongst the government’s own workforce over below inflation pay offers and crude job cuts that are damaging services.
‘The people taking action today aren’t the high flying mandarins being bussed around the country in an attempt to keep offices open, but people providing the everyday things we take for granted from cradle to the grave.’
He added: ‘30,000 members are on less than the minimum wage, and they expect us to take pay rises that are less than inflation.
‘The government is paying large amounts to fat cats and are expecting our members to accept less than inflation pay rises. That is unacceptable.
‘We are on strike because while the government said we should be talking they are sacking our members.
‘They have already issued 35 redundancy notices at DEFRA.
‘Compulsory redundancies are a line in the sand that we cannot let be crossed.’
He continued: ‘We say the march of privatisation has to stop.’
Serwotka said: ‘After the two-week overtime ban, on February 23 we will be having a national day of campaign action.’
Public sector union UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told the rally: ‘On behalf of UNISON’s 1.4 million members I bring a message of support.
‘Your struggle is our struggle. Throughout today, our members have been joining your picket lines.
‘I give you a commitment, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with Mark Serwotka to stop privatisation destroying our services.’
He added: ‘We have no alternative but to fight and take action against a government we worked so hard to get elected.
‘We will defend our members’ jobs
‘Today is the day that not only the PCS but UNISON commits itself to continuing the action that you have started today.
‘Today is the start of the fight back.’
Other speakers bringing their support included TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, UCU joint general secretary Paul Mackney, TGWU general secretary Tony Woodley and Labour
MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.
PCS members and branch officers on the London march told News Line there will be further strike action.
Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, Parliament Square, PCS rep Ian Cheeseman, speaking on the picket line, summed up the general feeling.
He said: ‘One hundred per cent of union members have gone on strike here and some staff who are not members have joined the strike.
‘This is about our future. The civil service was based on keeping a job for life and having a decent pension.
‘Now the job for life and decent pensions have gone and pay is still poor.’
Fellow picket, PCS member Catherine Willmott, added: ‘Loyalty and hard work are not rewarded.
‘We feel very bitter. The government is trying to shaft us.’
Tony Page, a PCS member at English Heritage, said before the march: ‘A lot of people have moved out of London because they can’t afford to live here.
‘There will have to be more action. We’re having an overtime ban and work to rule but there will probably be more strike action.’
‘I can’t see the government giving in over one day’s action, it has to be sustained.
‘People feel very strongly. We’re determined to win decent pay, pensions and defend our jobs.’
At the British Library picket line, PCS member Dale Stuart told News Line: ‘We’re on strike because we don’t want compulsory redundancies.
‘We want better pensions and better pay. We should be getting a ten per cent rise, not 2.2 per cent.’
Librarian Irina Lester added: ‘This is the first time I’m on the picket line in my life.
‘It’s very important to fight for civil service jobs and to oppose job cuts and funding cuts.
‘If we want to continue providing an excellent service in the library, we need more state funding not less – and more jobs, not job cuts.
‘Library money should not be spent on private consultants, it should go to the librarians.
‘The pay is very low and our pay rise was very small.’
Adam Burton, a PCS member on the Ofsted, Kingsway picket line in London, said: ‘We’re on strike because of the pay freeze which means a cut, and the threat of future redundancies.
‘We’ve already had a lot of redundancies and we’re worried about more.
‘It might take more than a day’s strike to defeat the government.
‘We won’t be surprised if we are out again.’
At the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency, Piccadilly, PCS rep Andy Allcorn told News Line: ‘People are supporting colleagues who haven’t got a specific dispute.
‘This is against job and pay cuts.’
Vince Maples, PCS ID and Passport Service group assistant secretary, said: ‘Quarter of a million people are standing up and saying they’ve had enough.
‘We want fair pay and decent public services.’
Science Museum, Kensington, picket Trudy allen said: ‘We are suffering cuts in funding in the culture sector.
‘A lot of museums face privatisation and we face cuts in wages.’
