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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pay strike 'disrupts' passports | Pay strike 'disrupts' passports |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A strike by passport workers over a pay row caused "severe disruption" to the service, their union has claimed. | A strike by passport workers over a pay row caused "severe disruption" to the service, their union has claimed. |
| The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said 2,500 of its members supported the 24-hour walk-out. | The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said 2,500 of its members supported the 24-hour walk-out. |
| The union estimated the action prevented up to 30,000 passports being issued on Friday, with most appointments being cancelled. | The union estimated the action prevented up to 30,000 passports being issued on Friday, with most appointments being cancelled. |
| The Identity and Passport Service said it was a quiet time of year and plans were in place to minimise disruption. | The Identity and Passport Service said it was a quiet time of year and plans were in place to minimise disruption. |
| The strike, which was backed by members by 3-1, was called in protest at delays to a pay settlement. It will be followed by a week-long work-to-rule from Saturday. | The strike, which was backed by members by 3-1, was called in protest at delays to a pay settlement. It will be followed by a week-long work-to-rule from Saturday. |
| A spokeswoman for the Passport Service said it was working hard on the pay deal. | A spokeswoman for the Passport Service said it was working hard on the pay deal. |
| Passport price rise | Passport price rise |
| Workers from London, Peterborough, Durham, Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newport all took part in the strike, said the PCS. | Workers from London, Peterborough, Durham, Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newport all took part in the strike, said the PCS. |
| General secretary Mark Serwotka said the disruption caused by the strike action was "regrettable" but could have been avoided if managers had "made this year's pay deal a priority rather than cancelling negotiations". | General secretary Mark Serwotka said the disruption caused by the strike action was "regrettable" but could have been avoided if managers had "made this year's pay deal a priority rather than cancelling negotiations". |
| "The magnificent show of support has illustrated the depth of anger over the delay in dealing with this year's pay," he said. | "The magnificent show of support has illustrated the depth of anger over the delay in dealing with this year's pay," he said. |
| Earlier Mr Serwotka said staff were concerned they would see a repeat of last year's experience when it took management over a year to make a formal pay offer. | Earlier Mr Serwotka said staff were concerned they would see a repeat of last year's experience when it took management over a year to make a formal pay offer. |
| "Added to this is the fact that, at the same time as the cost of a passport has risen by 50% many staff members have seen their pay rise below the cost of inflation at a rate of just 1%." | "Added to this is the fact that, at the same time as the cost of a passport has risen by 50% many staff members have seen their pay rise below the cost of inflation at a rate of just 1%." |
| The Passport Service said: "Pay proposals have been formulated and we are working hard to progress this matter. | The Passport Service said: "Pay proposals have been formulated and we are working hard to progress this matter. |
| "We have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of potential industrial action on our customers. No offices will be closed." | "We have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of potential industrial action on our customers. No offices will be closed." |
| BBC labour affairs correspondent Stephen Cape said the Treasury had still to decide how much cash was available for the pay settlement in a climate of tighter public spending. | |
| He said there were similar wage problems in 19 other government departments, one of which could prove the next flashpoint. | He said there were similar wage problems in 19 other government departments, one of which could prove the next flashpoint. |