Staff at Merseyside passport offices are continuing their long-running strike action.
In total, more than a thousand workers across England, Scotland and Wales are out on strike at present. The industrial action has been organised by the Public and Commercial Services union.
Picket lines have regularly been seen outside the passport office in Old Hall Street. The action began on April 3 and is expected to continue until May 5.
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The action is an escalation of the union’s long-running dispute over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security and is likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of passports as the summer approaches. It is the latest strike action by members of the PCS Union, with Home Office workers out on the picket on Wednesday in Liverpool city centre and Bootle.
Speaking previously about the strike, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, 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. They seem to think if they ignore our members, they’ll go away.
“How can our members ignore the cost-of-living crisis when 40,000 civil servants are using foodbanks 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.”
The PCS today announced further action in another dispute, this time involving workers at the Department of Work and Pensions. More than 600 civil servants working in 13 JobCentres in Glasgow and Liverpool today announce five days’ new strike action.
PCS members will walk out from May 2 to 6 in the national dispute over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.
Liverpool has been targeted for disruptive action because of controversial plans to close Toxteth JobCentre.
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