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Civil servants walk out over cuts Civil servants walk out over cuts
(about 5 hours later)
Widespread disruption is expected across public services in Scotland as civil servants stage a one-day walkout. About 30,000 Scottish civil servants have participated in a major one-day strike over job cuts and pay, according to union officials.
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said action could disrupt court sittings and cause delays in job centres and passport offices. The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said that about 90% of civil servants took part in the 24-hour strike on Wednesday.
Other services such as museums and galleries could also be affected. Many court cases were cancelled while museums and galleries closed.
The union said the strike was in response to Chancellor Gordon Brown's decision in July 2004 to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs in the UK. Officials said the strike was in response to the decision to cut 100,000 civil service jobs in the UK.
The PCS's main rally is being held in Glasgow at 1200 GMT followed by a march through the city centre. Eddie Reilly, PCS Scottish secretary, said: "Our members have clearly shown from their response, their determination to sustain a prolonged campaign of industrial action in order to oppose compulsory redundancies, defeat below-inflation pay offers and protect the services they deliver to the people of the country from the cradle to the grave.
This marks the beginning of a massive campaign of industrial action unless Gordon Brown sensibly negotiates Eddie ReillyPCS Fair pay
Picket lines are expected at government offices. "Chancellor Gordon Brown is in the last chance saloon. He might be looking for a new job, but our union and our members are standing up to fight for their jobs and for fair pay."
The strike could also have an impact on people submitting their tax returns on the self-assessment deadline. As a result of the strike, there were no sheriff or jury trials at Glasgow Sheriff Court but it was open for other court business.
Eddie Reilly, Scottish secretary of the PCS, said: "Over two years ago, Gordon Brown announced he would cut over 100,000 civil service jobs. In Aberdeen, the high court was closed and the sheriff court was only handling limited business. Staff at the local pensions office and other regional government offices were also affected by the stoppage.
"We have seen almost 40,000 jobs go and our members are now facing the issue of compulsory redundancy notices. The union said that the "vast majority" of staff had not turned up at the huge tax return processing centre in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.
"If we add to that below inflation pay offers over recent years, our members have said enough is enough." It was a bidding war with the Tories to see who could sack the most people, a disgrace Carolyn Leckie Scottish Socialist Party MSP
He added: "This marks the beginning of a massive campaign of industrial action unless Gordon Brown sensibly negotiates with us to solve these problems." Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie joined pickets outside the tax office in East Kilbride. She said: "Gordon Brown announced 100,000 job cuts in parliament without any talks with staff or unions.
Candidates sitting their driving tests could also be affected if examiners choose to strike. "It was a bidding war with the Tories to see who could sack the most people, a disgrace."
However, the Driving Standards Agency is urging candidates to report anyway. Several government departments said they had managed to keep offices open during the strike action.
HM Revenue and Customs said it would aim to maintain a normal service. The Inland Revenue said all of its Scottish branches had opened for business "as normal".
There are about 30,000 civil servants in Scotland. Officials at the Department for Work and Pensions, which runs several hundred job centres across Scotland, also said that all of its centres had opened for business.
Hundreds of civil servants were due to take part in a rally and march in Glasgow.