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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Thousands in civil service strike | Thousands in civil service strike |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Thousands of civil servants have taken strike action, joining a 24-hour walk-out by about 700 coastguard control room staff | Thousands of civil servants have taken strike action, joining a 24-hour walk-out by about 700 coastguard control room staff |
| About 100,000 staff from 10 government departments struck over plans for pay rises to be capped below inflation, their union said. | About 100,000 staff from 10 government departments struck over plans for pay rises to be capped below inflation, their union said. |
| The government says small pay deals for public sector staff are needed to maintain long-term economic stability. | The government says small pay deals for public sector staff are needed to maintain long-term economic stability. |
| The Public and Commercial Services union said further action could follow. | The Public and Commercial Services union said further action could follow. |
| The strike on Thursday coincided with separate disputes involving members of the National Union of Teachers and some further education lecturers. | The strike on Thursday coincided with separate disputes involving members of the National Union of Teachers and some further education lecturers. |
| Maritime and Coastguard Agency staff began their third 24-hour stoppage in the dispute at 1900 BST on Wednesday. | Maritime and Coastguard Agency staff began their third 24-hour stoppage in the dispute at 1900 BST on Wednesday. |
| The government's argument that paying public and civil servants a decent wage fuels inflation is disingenuous and discredited PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka Strikers defy pay curbs | The government's argument that paying public and civil servants a decent wage fuels inflation is disingenuous and discredited PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka Strikers defy pay curbs |
| A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) spokesman said about half of the 19 UK-wide search and rescue centres had closed as a result of the control-room staff walkout, but the volunteers who man rescue boats were unaffected by the strike. | A Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) spokesman said about half of the 19 UK-wide search and rescue centres had closed as a result of the control-room staff walkout, but the volunteers who man rescue boats were unaffected by the strike. |
| Among the other workers joining civil servants on strike were Jobcentre workers and driving examiners. | Among the other workers joining civil servants on strike were Jobcentre workers and driving examiners. |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the scale of industrial action was huge and staff were "furious" over a series of below-inflation pay offers. | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said the scale of industrial action was huge and staff were "furious" over a series of below-inflation pay offers. |
| 'Discredited' claim | 'Discredited' claim |
| "The government's policy to peg public sector pay to below inflation is embedding a culture of low pay across civil and public services," he said. | "The government's policy to peg public sector pay to below inflation is embedding a culture of low pay across civil and public services," he said. |
| "It is scandalous that coastguard watch assistants, who save lives, along with other colleagues in the civil service who deliver essential services, would be paid just above the minimum wage. | "It is scandalous that coastguard watch assistants, who save lives, along with other colleagues in the civil service who deliver essential services, would be paid just above the minimum wage. |
| "The government's argument that paying public and civil servants a decent wage fuels inflation is disingenuous and discredited." | "The government's argument that paying public and civil servants a decent wage fuels inflation is disingenuous and discredited." |
| Government departments and agencies hit by the strike included the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office, the Department for Transport, the Driving Standards Agency, and the Highways Agency. | Government departments and agencies hit by the strike included the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office, the Department for Transport, the Driving Standards Agency, and the Highways Agency. |