THERE were picket lines outside Jobcentres and benefit offices in London and across the country yesterday, at the start of a two-day strike by more than 80,000 civil servants working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Charlie McDonald, PCS branch secretary for the union’s DWP east London branch, told News Line on the picket line in Hackney yesterday morning: ‘This is a dispute about a three-year pay offer that has been imposed upon us.
‘It will see our members’ living standards cut year upon year.
‘The cuts and privatisation are leading to a much worse service for our claimants.’
He added: ‘It’s a very good idea to coordinate with other unions. I’d be in favour of a public sector, one-day strike against the pay freeze.’
Outside London Bridge Jobcentre Paul Hume, PCS branch health and safety officer told News Line: ‘We’re out because of the appalling pay deal we’ve been offered.
‘For a lot of our members it means no pay rise at all and a lot of them are already on low pay.
‘Price rises in things like gas, electricity, and council tax mean we are getting poorer year by year.
‘At the same time they are cutting staff. They are also closing offices, two in this borough.
‘We’re doing the only thing we can do – fight it.’
PCS rep at Shepherds Bush Jobcentre, Christine Hulme, told News Line: ‘The main issue is that 40 per cent of staff will not get any pay rise this year and will get less than one per cent in 2009.
‘At last week’s lobby of parliament, (PCS general secretary) Mark Serwotka spoke about co-ordinated action in April with the NUT. I would also like to see more co-ordinated action with the civil service.’
The Shepherds Bush office is threatened with closure. PCS member Joe Riley said: ‘Over the last few months there has been an active move in reducing the number of people using the centre because claimants have been encouraged to use other organisations to make phone calls and get advice.
‘They don’t want a publicly-funded employment service.’
At Ellthorne Road Jobcentre, north London, PCS central London branch EC vice-chair Vince Mahon said: ‘The two-day action is due to management inability to offer decent wages.
‘We’ve tried negotiating and offered to go to ACAS but management refused, we’ve been driven to do this strike action.’