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| Civil servants strike over cuts | Civil servants strike over cuts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A strike by thousands of civil servants is threatening to disrupt public services from tax returns to benefits. | A strike by thousands of civil servants is threatening to disrupt public services from tax returns to benefits. |
| Members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are walking out over plans to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs. | Members of the Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union are walking out over plans to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs. |
| PCS head Mark Serwotka said strikers were not "high flying mandarins" but people doing everyday jobs, some earning just above minimum wage. | PCS head Mark Serwotka said strikers were not "high flying mandarins" but people doing everyday jobs, some earning just above minimum wage. |
| The action may disrupt courts, passport offices, job and driving test centres. | The action may disrupt courts, passport offices, job and driving test centres. |
| The Welsh Assembly is also expected to be closed for the day, as workers picket government offices and join rallies across the UK. | The Welsh Assembly is also expected to be closed for the day, as workers picket government offices and join rallies across the UK. |
| 'Taken for granted' | 'Taken for granted' |
| Mr Serwotka said: "Those on strike today aren't faceless bureaucrats or high flying mandarins, but people at the heart of public services providing the everyday things we take for granted from passports, tax and benefits to driving tests and courts. | Mr Serwotka said: "Those on strike today aren't faceless bureaucrats or high flying mandarins, but people at the heart of public services providing the everyday things we take for granted from passports, tax and benefits to driving tests and courts. |
| "Today's strike illustrates the depth of anger over the damage crude job cuts are having and the growing frustration over below inflation pay offers." | "Today's strike illustrates the depth of anger over the damage crude job cuts are having and the growing frustration over below inflation pay offers." |
| The union wants guarantees that a decision to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs will not be achieved through compulsory redundancies. | The union wants guarantees that a decision to cut more than 100,000 civil service jobs will not be achieved through compulsory redundancies. |
| At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change Pat McFaddenCabinet Office minister | At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change Pat McFaddenCabinet Office minister |
| Mr Serwotka also said thousands of civil servants earned just above the minimum wage, and called for government assurances over jobs, services and privatisation as well as pay inequalities. | Mr Serwotka also said thousands of civil servants earned just above the minimum wage, and called for government assurances over jobs, services and privatisation as well as pay inequalities. |
| Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said there was "absolutely no need" for the strike and only one civil service union had chosen to do so. | Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said there was "absolutely no need" for the strike and only one civil service union had chosen to do so. |
| He said civil servants were highly valued and did a "great job" for the public. | He said civil servants were highly valued and did a "great job" for the public. |
| 'End the scandal' | 'End the scandal' |
| But he added: "At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change, both to ensure value for money for the public and to adapt to new technology." | But he added: "At a time when the government is increasing investment in public services no organisation, including the civil service, can be immune from the need for change, both to ensure value for money for the public and to adapt to new technology." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I'm striking today. Civil servant numbers have already been vastly cut and they are now talking about making further cuts Alison, Guildford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5400&edition=1&ttl=20070130213856">Send us your comments He said unions could go through "an established process" to raise concerns without going on strike, and said departments would do what they could to minimise its effect on important services. | |
| A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said it provided services for vulnerable people, including those in debt, which could be jeopardised by a strike. | A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said it provided services for vulnerable people, including those in debt, which could be jeopardised by a strike. |
| "Strikes or working to rule help no one - not union members or our customers," he said. | "Strikes or working to rule help no one - not union members or our customers," he said. |
| But Labour MP John McDonnell, chairman of the PCS Parliamentary Group said he would join people on the picket line to defend jobs and "end the scandal of low pay in the civil service". | But Labour MP John McDonnell, chairman of the PCS Parliamentary Group said he would join people on the picket line to defend jobs and "end the scandal of low pay in the civil service". |