Workers at failed firm are to be balloted over strike

WORKERS at Interserve are to be balloted for strike action in a row over job cuts and sick pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union based at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including cleaners and caterers, will start voting on March 25.

The ballot will close in mid April, so action could start in May if there is a Yes vote.

Meanwhile, the company has secured

£76 million in new business with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Interserve was sold after filing for administration last week.

The union said its members are angry at Interserve for threatening to make staff redundant and refusing to negotiate with PCS reps.

Cleaners at the company have raised concerns about unclear contracts, shortages in holiday pay and the lack of back pay from increases they were due from August 2018, said the PCS.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The Interserve debacle shows that they should never have been awarded the contract at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. To add insult to injury the company has refused to negotiate with the union and is attacking our members’ terms and conditions.

“Ministers cannot escape their responsibility for this debacle particularly given 45,000 jobs are now at stake”.