UK civil servants call for walkout

Some 100,000 state staff for 124 entities plan strike for Feb. 1

Some 100,000 UK civil servants announced plans to strike next month after health care and rail unions signalled they’re far from resolving their disputes with employers and the government, piling further pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration.

Workers for 124 government departments and agencies will walk out on February 1, impacting a range of public services including driving tests, passport applications and welfare payments, the Public and Commercial Services union said.

Biggest strike in years

It will be the biggest civil service strike in years and signals a “significant escalation” of industrial action, the union said. PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said he was meeting the government yesterday to demand better pay for his members.

Sunak’s administration is already grappling to contain widespread industrial action across sectors including public transport, the National Health Service and the Border Force, as unions protest realterms cuts in pay. The government has so far failed to stem the workforce unrest, despite a series of meetings between ministers and unions on Monday.

The bosses of three rail unions told a House of Commons panel Wednesday they aren’t close to a deal with employers, despite months of strikes.

But hours later, Transport Secretary Mark Harper suggested an end to the rail strikes could be in sight.

Meanwhile, some 14 health care unions representing more than 1 million workers said they won’t engage in talks over pay for the next fiscal year until the government discusses this year’s pay settlement.