Thousands On Strike

PCS members in Scotland join over a quarter million civil and public servants on strike over pay misery.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has called the action to send a clear message to the UK government that members have had enough of pay cuts.

The latest official civil service statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics last week, show the large number of civil servants in lower to middle ranking executive officer posts have received only a 2.05% rise since 31 March 2010.

The action puts pay in the spotlight, with wages frozen for two years after 2010 and subsequently capped at 1%.

Since 2010, taking into account pay cuts, the increase in monthly pension contributions and the cost of living, many civil servants will have suffered a 20% cut in their incomes by next year, the union says.

Pickets at MOD Kentigern House will also be joined at 08.15 by delegates from the STUC's 'A Just Scotland, Decent Work, Dignified Lives' conference.

After early morning picket lines there will a rally (11.00–12.30) in Adelaide's, 290 Bath Street, Glasgow.

Next week, PCS members working in Scottish Government areas will join UNISON local government workers for further action on pay.

PCS Scottish Secretary Lynn Henderson said: "Our action this week demands an end to year on year pay cuts that are slashing the public servants' living standards at the same time as millionaires are handed tax cuts and tens of billions of pounds is stolen from our public finances every year through tax evasion."

Services likely to be affected:

The union's members work for central government departments and agencies, and other areas of the public sector, including: jobcentres and benefits offices; tax and tax credit offices and enquiry centres; passport offices; ports and airports in immigration, passport controls and customs; as driving examiners.