DWP hit by second day of strike action

Thousands
of civil servants are on strike for a second day in protest at pay rates and a
controversial bonus scheme.

The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), said most Jobcentres and benefit
offices in Britain had only 10 per cent of staff working yesterday.

However,
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said only about 38,000 people took
part in the industrial action and 121 Jobcentres out of a total of 1,114 had
been closed because of the strike.

Mark
Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, insisted the turnout had been
"excellent" as staff stayed away in protest against the
"divisive and unfair bonus system and the continuing problem of low
pay".

"Throughout
this dispute the union has increasingly gained the support of staff, with PCS
[membership] growing by 14,000.

"It’s
high time management recognised that its high-handed tactics aren’t working and
started to address the concerns of the thousands of hard-working staff in the
department."

A
spokeswoman for the DWP said the department was confident it could maintain a
near normal service.

Sir
Richard Mottram, permanent secretary at the DWP, said the strike was
"unjustified".

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For
a full interview with Sir Richard Mottram visit: https://www.personneltoday.com/goto/22638

By Mike Berry