UK Passport Office workers to strike for 5 weeks

The PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said: “This escalation of our action has come about because, in sharp contrast with other parts of the public sector, ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months.”

“Their approach is further evidence they’re treating their own workforce worse than anyone else. They’ve had six months to resolve this dispute, but for six months have refused to improve their 2% imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members’ other issues of concern,” he added.

Serwotka said the high cost of living was affecting civil servants, forcing many to use food banks and claim government benefits.

“They seem to think if they ignore our members, they’ll go away. But how can our members ignore the cost of living crisis when 40,000 civil servants are using food banks and 45,000 of them are claiming the benefits they administer themselves? It’s a national scandal and a stain on this government’s reputation that so many of its own workforce are living in poverty,” he added.

There have been several protests in the UK over the past months, with workers demanding better wages as the cost of living increases. Just last week, junior doctors walked off the job in protest of better pay.