300,000 civil servants to vote on industrial action over job cuts

Almost
300,000 civil servants have begun voting on whether to stage a strike in
protest over "unacceptable" job cuts.

The
Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) is planning a campaign of industrial
action against controversial plans to axe around 100,000 posts.

The
walkout would be held on 5 November if the workers vote in favour of action. It
would be the biggest in more than a decade if it goes ahead.

Mark
Serwotka, PCS general
secretary, said: "Members are angry to be faced with such damaging and
arbitrary cuts – anger which will only be compounded if plans to rise the pension age get the green
light."

PCS
members, which include
Jobcentre and benefits office staff, have already staged a series of strikes
this year in protest over low pay and working conditions.

By Mike Berry

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