Strikes to hit jobcentres and benefits offices as pay talks stall

Talks
to avert strike action at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) broke down
today after unions accused it of "appalling" pay offers and an
unacceptable performance appraisal system.

The
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said it would call strike action on
February 16 and 17 to secure a resolution to the dispute – a move likely to
close jobcentres and benefits offices across the country.

Mark
Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said industrial action was now inevitable
because the DWP was unwilling to engage in meaningful negotiations

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

"It
is high time DWP management seriously addressed the problem of endemic poverty
pay," he said.

By Michael Millar