Strike Over Further Justice Cuts

Workers are striking against further changes to Scotland's justice system.

PCS union members from courts, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal, prisons and the Risk Management Authority are picketing.

It coincides with the second wave of sheriff and justice of the peace closures, and comes after a week of industrial action throughout the Scottish government and parliamentary bodies.

Cupar Sheriff Court shut and moved business to Dundee last May, while jury trials at Kirkcaldy were transferred to Dunfermline.

Workers are calling for a 5 percent pay increase - that's another £1,200p/a - to deal with increased demand and the cost of living.

The union says its members reject having to do more work for less pay, with a pay cap of 1 percent that they say leaves them with a pay cut in real terms. The body also says there is a "relentless increase" in workloads as staff who leave are not replaced.

Lynn Henderson, PCS Scottish Secretary said “PCS members across are dedicated to delivering fair justice and high quality services to the people of Scotland, at times under very difficult circumstances for very little reward. 

“The new Justice Secretary should use any whatever influence he has to feed back into Cabinet discussions on the budget that civil and public servants can no longer put up with job cuts and reorganisations and carry the impact of austerity cuts in their pockets with pay freezes and pay restraint.”

Picket Lines

• Aberdeen Sheriff Court
• Edinburgh Sheriff Court
• Edinburgh Supreme Court
• Edinburgh Scottish Courts Service HQ
• Glasgow Sheriff Court
• Greenock Sheriff Court
• Hamilton Sheriff Cour
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Service in Edinburgh and Glasgow
• Shotts Prison
• Polmont Young Offenders Institution
• Barlinnie Prison
• Lowmoss Prison, Bishopbriggs
• Glenochil Prison, Alloa