Civil servants’ union ‘plots to cause chaos over Christmas’

CIVIL servants are plotting strikes that will disrupt Christmas travel plans, a union boss has revealed.

Border Force employees at airports and ports and officials at the Department for Transport (DFT), are planning a series of walk-outs “throughout the festive period”.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), said a month of “sustained industrial action”, from mid-december until mid-january, would cause “significant disruption”. Some workers will take action for the entire month, while others will walk out for shorter periods in a move intended to have “maximum impact” on travellers over the period.

Thousands of officials in the Home Office, Border Force, DFT and Defra will take action in a dispute over pay, jobs and pensions.

Mr Serwotka said the action would affect driving tests, the issuing of driving licences and passport control at airports. “PCS members are angry,” he said. “They helped to keep this country running during the pandemic, and in return, have been treated appallingly by this Government. With inflation now at 11.1 per cent, it is inconceivable that they are expected to cope with yet another real terms pay cut.

“With tens of thousands of members on poverty pay, it is no longer about tightening belts, but about choosing between heating and eating – and that is simply not acceptable for the Government’s own workforce.

“We have made it clear to the Cabinet Office that we are available for talks throughout this period. I hope that they do the right thing and come back to the table prepared to meet our demands.

“If not, then we are prepared to do what we need to do to show them the value of our members’ work once they withdraw their labour.”

The union represents workers in 124 Whitehall departments and armslength bodies, including those in the Border Force and Passport Office, as well as those working in job centres and processing benefits payments.

Representatives of PCS met the Cabinet Office this week, but union bosses said they their demands, which include a 10 per cent pay rise, were not met.

Mr Serwotka said exact details of the action would be announced nearer the time – to give the Government as little notice as possible to prepare – and that ministers should deal with the causes of the dispute rather than concentrating on contingency plans in response to it.