10 May 2023 , 14:57
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Tens of thousands of civil servants are poised to walk out in “high profile disruptive strikes” after voting overwhelmingly to continue industrial action until the winter.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) has announced staff at 106 government departments have voted ‘Yes’ for industrial action lasting until November.
This includes civil servants at the Border Force, Passport Office and DVLA.
The PCS said 88% of those balloted had backed renewing a mandate to strike for another six months in a bitter dispute over pay and conditions.
General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This vote shows our members will not tolerate being treated worse than anyone else in the public sector.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The union has been locked in a bitter dispute with the Government for months (Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)“It sends a very strong signal to the government that they must get round the negotiating table immediately.
“After six months of strike action, the government might have hoped our members would go quietly back to work, but ministers have under-estimated our members’ strength, determination and resolve.
“PCS members kept this country running during the pandemic and they deserve to be treated better by their employer.
“Unless ministers put more money on the table, they will see more high profile disruptive action over the summer, leading into autumn.”
The union has held a series of strikes in Whitehall departments.
The union said the ballot result, on a 52% turnout, means it can continue to call a mixture of "sustained action in targeted areas".
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