Passport Office workers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are set to strike for five weeks, starting on April 3 and ending on May 5. Over 1,000 members of the Public and
Commercial Services (PCS) union are taking action over jobs, pay, and conditions in an escalation of a long-running dispute. The walkouts are expected to have a significant impact on passport delivery and may affect summer holidaymakers. The PCS has accused ministers of failing to hold meaningful talks and ignoring the concerns of its members. This is the latest in a series of strikes that have been ongoing for six months.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka stated that this escalation of action was necessary because ministers have failed to engage with the union, despite two previous massive strikes and sustained targeted action. According to him, the government has refused to improve the 2% imposed pay rise and address other issues of concern. Serwotka criticized the government for ignoring its members and the cost-of-living crisis, which has led to 40,000 civil servants using food banks and 45,000 claiming benefits. He said that it was a national scandal that so many government workers were living in poverty.
Workers from Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough, and Southport will be striking from April 3 to May 5, while those in Belfast will be striking from April 7 to May 5. The strike is expected to cause significant disruption, as passport services are already struggling with a Covid backlog.
This is not the first time that the Passport Office has been hit by strikes. In 2014, a backlog of passport applications resulted in staff working overtime and canceling leave. The then Home Secretary, Theresa May, urged staff to end the strike, stating that their actions were putting the security of the country at risk. The PCS, however, accused May of using the issue as a political football and criticized the government for cuts to staffing levels.
The current strike comes at a time when passport services are already under pressure due to the Covid pandemic. The Passport Office has been dealing with a backlog of applications since the start of the pandemic, and there have been delays in processing applications. The strike is likely to exacerbate the situation, and holidaymakers are advised to check their passport status before making travel plans.
The strike highlights the ongoing debate around the cost of living and working conditions in the UK. The PCS claims that government workers are living in poverty, while the government argues that it has increased pay for key workers and is investing in public services. The strike is likely to be closely watched by other unions and may lead to further action in other sectors.
In conclusion, the upcoming strike by Passport Office workers is an escalation of a long-running dispute over jobs, pay, and conditions. The strike is expected to cause significant disruption and may impact summer holidaymakers. The PCS accuses the government of ignoring the concerns of its members, while the government argues that it has increased pay for key workers and is investing in public services. The strike highlights the ongoing debate around the cost of living and working conditions in the UK and may lead to further action in other sectors. Photo by Paulwidnes1, Wikimedia commons.