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Public sector union to hold one-day strike
Dick Murray, Transport Editor23 Oct 2008
Tens of thousands of public sector workers are set to take part in a 24-hour strike on Monday 10 November.
This will be followed by a three-month continuous overtime ban - the first - in an ongoing row over pay.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the 300,000-strong Public and Commercial Services Union, said anger among workers subject to a government two per cent pay rise limit had increased after the bail-out of the banks.
He said there was particular fury over Gordon Brown's remark that the Government would "do what it can" to rescue the banks but did not have similar words for the concerns of working families. "This will be the start of a long campaign," he added
The national executive committee of the PCS was meeting this afternoon to approve the strike. It wants to link the action with the National Union of Teachers and the giant Unite union, both of which are holding strike ballots.
Reader views (11)
Typical scummy unions, kicking people when the country is down. Everyone is struggling at the moment, not just the communist unions.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 24/10/2008 09:44
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Turkeys voting for Christmas.
- Adam, Harrow, UK., 24/10/2008 08:47
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As a civil servant of almost 30 years I'm fed up being told by central government I have a good pension so don't need a pay rise - get in the real world will petrol be reduced because I have poor salary - so why should I be punished whilst the fat cats fleece us all?
- Colin, Paisley, Scotland., 23/10/2008 20:31
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Sack half of them (they'll not be missed) and pay a bit more to the ones left who will have to work for a change.
Yes Naomi - sort out their over-priced pensions too. It's time they got real like all the rest of us have to.
- Anglo, Sussex, UK., 23/10/2008 20:09
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The critics of the Civil Servants proposed industrial action are clearly coming from a position of utter ignorance. The arrogance of those who fail to see how the Government has been bullying Civil Servants for over a decade is quite staggering. These critics ought to bow their heads in shame for being so stupid.
- Tangomike, Kensington, London., 23/10/2008 20:07
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Naomi Sajeri, as a ( Fireman ) I pay 11% of my salary towards my final pension, assuming I live to retirement age, when you go to work each day, are you like myself and my colleagues prepared to sacrifice your life to save that of a stranger. Nick PUBLIC SECTOR WORKER.
- Nick James, London, UK., 23/10/2008 19:57
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With you on that Gary Wycombe but it will be interesting listening to Nu-Lying-Labs explanation of what's happening. It will be like watching Shaun of the dead again. All Nu-Lying-Lads saying exactly the same nonsense and in total denial. However, this is true, I have untold candles, packs of batteries 16gallons of diesel and a generator on stand by. We've seen it all before. Then the pound collapse and interest rate hits 25pc again under Labour but they never tell you that. Also last time around they didn't have Maggie to blame.
- Mike, London, UK., 23/10/2008 19:28
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We are bust as a country. The public sector currently have wages above the private sector (except for the highest levels), retire at least 5 years earlier on gold plated pensions. We can not afford the current level of public sector remuneration. As much as I dislike it, the government had no choice but to bail out the banks, if it had not then we would have had a total economic collapse.
- Jeremy E, London, UK., 23/10/2008 18:40
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Whilst they are on strike might be a good time to zap their gold plated pensions. In this climate we cannot continue to allow the taxpayer to fund them.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester, 23/10/2008 17:52
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Yawn...winter of discontent part 2 coming up! Better stock up candles, fill the car up, get more bin bags for the uncollected rubbish...remember 1973 anyone? New Labour - History repeating itself I am afraid.
- Gary, Wycombe, 23/10/2008 17:42
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These people would not have to take part in industrial action if they became Banker's, 2 million per annum salary, plus a bonus of a couple more.
- Raymond, Stoke on Trent, 23/10/2008 16:58
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