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Civil servants strike over jobs Civil servants strike over cuts
(about 1 hour later)
Up to 23,000 civil servants are to strike across Wales as part of a UK-wide protest over jobs, pay and privatisation.Up to 23,000 civil servants are to strike across Wales as part of a UK-wide protest over jobs, pay and privatisation.
Job centres, benefit offices, driving exams and customs work are likely to be hit by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) action.Job centres, benefit offices, driving exams and customs work are likely to be hit by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) action.
The action follows Chancellor Gordon Brown's 2004 announcement that 104,000 civil servant posts would be cut.The action follows Chancellor Gordon Brown's 2004 announcement that 104,000 civil servant posts would be cut.
The union said Wales stood to lose more than 10,000 of those jobs by 2011.The union said Wales stood to lose more than 10,000 of those jobs by 2011.
The union has called the strike action as part of its dispute with the government over planned job cuts.The union has called the strike action as part of its dispute with the government over planned job cuts.
The PCS said the cuts programme would have a bigger impact on the Welsh economy than any other part of the UK because Wales has proportionately more civil servants.
Things will simply get worse if we take no action, so reluctantly we have been compelled to make our concerns public Chris Hall, PCS national executiveThings will simply get worse if we take no action, so reluctantly we have been compelled to make our concerns public Chris Hall, PCS national executive
Picket lines are expected outside official buildings across Wales and the union said it was also drawing up plans for further "guerrilla" action at later dates. The PCS said the cuts programme would have a bigger impact on the Welsh economy than any other part of the UK because Wales has proportionately more civil servants.
'Loyal workers' Picket lines are expected outside official buildings across the country and the union said it was also drawing up plans for further "guerrilla" action at later dates.
The action is also expected to affect the court service, with the number of court hearings reduced. Some cases will continue using senior managers and non-union staff members.
Chris Hall, who serves on the union's national executive, and is a court clerk based in Wrexham said: "Hard-working staff and members across north Wales are disillusioned and fear for their futures, with pensions under threat and jobs already being outsourced to private companies.Chris Hall, who serves on the union's national executive, and is a court clerk based in Wrexham said: "Hard-working staff and members across north Wales are disillusioned and fear for their futures, with pensions under threat and jobs already being outsourced to private companies.
Civil servants say they are worried about the threat to jobs
"In the courts we now have private security guards and fine enforcement officers taking the work previously done 'in house' by loyal workers who provided the public with a better quality of service."In the courts we now have private security guards and fine enforcement officers taking the work previously done 'in house' by loyal workers who provided the public with a better quality of service.
"Things will simply get worse if we take no action, so reluctantly we have been compelled to make our concerns public.""Things will simply get worse if we take no action, so reluctantly we have been compelled to make our concerns public."
As a democratic institution, the assembly respects the right of its staff to take legal strike action Lord Elis Thomas
Speakers from a number of political parties will address a rally at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Marches or meetings are also planned at Bangor, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham.Speakers from a number of political parties will address a rally at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Marches or meetings are also planned at Bangor, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham.
Debates at the Welsh assembly have been cancelled and the Senedd debating chamber is closed to the public, although the assembly government said it was not expecting to be hit hard by the strike.Debates at the Welsh assembly have been cancelled and the Senedd debating chamber is closed to the public, although the assembly government said it was not expecting to be hit hard by the strike.
A spokesperson said: "We expect normal services to the public to be maintained without significant disruption and do not anticipate that assembly government offices will need to close during the day of industrial action."
Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis Thomas is to visit the picket line at the Senedd on Wednesday morning to give his support to the strikers.Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis Thomas is to visit the picket line at the Senedd on Wednesday morning to give his support to the strikers.
He said: "As a democratic institution, the assembly respects the right of its staff to take legal strike action."He said: "As a democratic institution, the assembly respects the right of its staff to take legal strike action."