'Home Office staff to strike on eve of Games' diff viewer (5/6)

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Home Office staff to strike on eve of Games	Home Office staff to strike on eve of Games
2012-07-19 17:50:08 UTC	2012-07-19 23:41:25 UTC (about 6 hours later)
Thousands of Home Office staff will strike the day before the Olympics open, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has said.	Thousands of Home Office staff will strike the day before the Olympics open, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has said.
PCS members will strike for 24 hours next Thursday - when many thousands of visitors are due to arrive in the UK.	PCS members will strike for 24 hours next Thursday - when many thousands of visitors are due to arrive in the UK.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the action was "shameful" as it threatens disruption to people travelling to London for the Games.	Home Secretary Theresa May said the action was "shameful" as it threatens disruption to people travelling to London for the Games.
Immigration minister Damian Green said contingency plans were in place.	Immigration minister Damian Green said contingency plans were in place.
East Midlands Trains staff have also voted to strike during the Olympics.	East Midlands Trains staff have also voted to strike during the Olympics.
PCS union members will take other forms of action from July 27 to August 20, including working-to-rule and an overtime ban.	PCS union members will take other forms of action from July 27 to August 20, including working-to-rule and an overtime ban.
The PCS said 57.2% of those who voted backed strike action - the turnout was 20%.	The PCS said 57.2% of those who voted backed strike action - the turnout was 20%.
The action will involve staff across the Home Office, including the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau.	The action will involve staff across the Home Office, including the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau.
'Breaking point'	'Breaking point'
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told the BBC: "I think the government is whipping up hysteria about the Olympics, there'll be no disruption to the Olympics, this is a 24-hour strike before the Olympics actually takes place."	PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told the BBC: "I think the government is whipping up hysteria about the Olympics, there'll be no disruption to the Olympics, this is a 24-hour strike before the Olympics actually takes place."
He said he was prepared to meet the culture secretary and home secretary any time in the next week to avert a strike but if they kept their "heads in the sand" the strike would continue.	He said he was prepared to meet the culture secretary and home secretary any time in the next week to avert a strike but if they kept their "heads in the sand" the strike would continue.
Mr Hunt said the union's behaviour was "totally irresponsible... To threaten us in this way is totally inappropriate.	Mr Hunt said the union's behaviour was "totally irresponsible... To threaten us in this way is totally inappropriate.
"To suggest that it won't cause disruption is so extraordinary that it completely beggars belief."	"To suggest that it won't cause disruption is so extraordinary that it completely beggars belief."
London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he does not think the union will succeed in disrupting the Olympics and the majority of PCS members want to put on a great Games.	London Mayor Boris Johnson has said he does not think the union will succeed in disrupting the Olympics and the majority of PCS members want to put on a great Games.
In other developments as the UK prepares for the start of the Olympics on Friday 27 July:	In other developments as the UK prepares for the start of the Olympics on Friday 27 July:
An additional 1,200 troops have been put on standby to provide security at Olympic sites following G4S's problems deploying enough staff The Duchess of Cambridge has met the London 2012 Olympic torch relay's oldest bearer at the opening of a new exhibition in London Olympic medallist Steve Backley and artist Tracey Emin are among those carrying the Olympic torch as it travels from Deal to Maidstone, in Kent Great Britain's women's basketball team are beaten 88-63 by USA despite a spirited performance in a Games preparation match in Manchester Drivers on East Midlands Trains will strike from 6-8 August, union Aslef says, threatening disruption to spectators travelling to the Games Certain ministers, including the prime minister, chancellor, culture secretary and foreign secretary will be allowed to use the priority car lanes	An additional 1,200 troops have been put on standby to provide security at Olympic sites following G4S's problems deploying enough staff The Duchess of Cambridge has met the London 2012 Olympic torch relay's oldest bearer at the opening of a new exhibition in London Olympic medallist Steve Backley and artist Tracey Emin are among those carrying the Olympic torch as it travels from Deal to Maidstone, in Kent Great Britain's women's basketball team are beaten 88-63 by USA despite a spirited performance in a Games preparation match in Manchester Drivers on East Midlands Trains will strike from 6-8 August, union Aslef says, threatening disruption to spectators travelling to the Games Certain ministers, including the prime minister, chancellor, culture secretary and foreign secretary will be allowed to use the priority car lanes
Immigration minister Mr Green ~~said:~~ ~~"If~~ ~~this~~ ~~strike~~ ~~goes~~ ~~ahead~~ it ~~will~~ be a ~~selfish~~ ~~and~~ ~~irresponsible~~ ~~act~~ by the union ~~leadership,~~ ~~they~~ ~~have~~ ~~got~~ no ~~authority~~ ~~for~~ ~~this,~~ ~~only~~ ~~about~~ a ~~fifth~~ of ~~the~~ ~~membership~~ ~~voted~~ in ~~the~~ ~~ballot,~~ ~~and~~ of ~~that~~ ~~small~~ ~~minority~~ ~~only~~ ~~just~~ ~~over~~ ~~half~~ ~~want~~ to go on ~~strike."~~	Immigration minister Mr Green said there was low turnout in the strike ballot which showed most union members did not support a strike.
	He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "PCS members don't want this strike to happen - seven out of eight of them didn't vote for a strike.
	"They are patriotic people, they care about their job, they care about the reputation of this country.
	"It's a small group in the union leadership that is behaving disgracefully, trying to make political capital out of the Olympics which is meant to be a great national celebration."
Mr Green said he was confident disruption at immigration desks could be minimised because extra staff from the Home Office and other departments had been trained to provide cover.	Mr Green said he was confident disruption at immigration desks could be minimised because extra staff from the Home Office and other departments had been trained to provide cover.
Mrs May condemned the action saying: "I think that is shameful, frankly. They are holding a strike on what is one of the key days for people coming in for the Olympic Games.	Mrs May condemned the action saying: "I think that is shameful, frankly. They are holding a strike on what is one of the key days for people coming in for the Olympic Games.
"We will of course put contingency arrangements in place to ensure we can deal with people coming through the border as smoothly as possible."	"We will of course put contingency arrangements in place to ensure we can deal with people coming through the border as smoothly as possible."
John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industries, said: "For PCS to go on strike on this key day beggars belief. For it to happen because of a vote by 11% of staff is simply outrageous."	John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industries, said: "For PCS to go on strike on this key day beggars belief. For it to happen because of a vote by 11% of staff is simply outrageous."
But Labour MP John McDonnell, who chairs the PCS Parliamentary Group, said: "the government has brought this dispute on its own head".	But Labour MP John McDonnell, who chairs the PCS Parliamentary Group, said: "the government has brought this dispute on its own head".
East Midlands Trains drivers from the union Aslef plan to strike on 6-8 August in a row over pensions. But South West Trains staff have voted not to strike over the Olympics.	East Midlands Trains drivers from the union Aslef plan to strike on 6-8 August in a row over pensions. But South West Trains staff have voted not to strike over the Olympics.
Prime Minister David Cameron insisted the Olympics would be safe and secure.	Prime Minister David Cameron insisted the Olympics would be safe and secure.
Speaking at a press conference in Afghanistan, he said: "I do not believe it will be right, I do not believe it will be justified."	Speaking at a press conference in Afghanistan, he said: "I do not believe it will be right, I do not believe it will be justified."
Labour leader Ed Miliband also condemned the strike.	Labour leader Ed Miliband also condemned the strike.
The PCS is in dispute with the Home Office on plans to cut 8,500 jobs and the threat of compulsory redundancies in the passport office in Newport, South Wales.	The PCS is in dispute with the Home Office on plans to cut 8,500 jobs and the threat of compulsory redundancies in the passport office in Newport, South Wales.
Extra staff hired	Extra staff hired
There are also disagreements over pay rises capped at 1% following a two-year wage freeze, privatisation of services, and alleged victimisation of union reps.	There are also disagreements over pay rises capped at 1% following a two-year wage freeze, privatisation of services, and alleged victimisation of union reps.
This week the National Audit Office said the UK Border Agency had laid off 1,000 more staff than intended and was having to hire extra people and increase overtime to meet its workload.	This week the National Audit Office said the UK Border Agency had laid off 1,000 more staff than intended and was having to hire extra people and increase overtime to meet its workload.
The PCS is one of the largest unions in the UK with around 250,000 public sector members.	The PCS is one of the largest unions in the UK with around 250,000 public sector members.
PCS members at the Department for Transport have been taking industrial action over the past few weeks, while staff in other departments, including the ministries of defence and justice, are set to vote shortly on how to campaign against cuts.	PCS members at the Department for Transport have been taking industrial action over the past few weeks, while staff in other departments, including the ministries of defence and justice, are set to vote shortly on how to campaign against cuts.
Will you be flying into the UK on 26 July? Are you a member of the PCS union? What is your reaction to this news? You can send us your comments using the form below.	Will you be flying into the UK on 26 July? Are you a member of the PCS union? What is your reaction to this news? You can send us your comments using the form below.