Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Nine day walk-out at 65 courts in row over 'unworkable' shakeup - see full list

Staff at 65 courts in England and Wales will walk out for nine days in a bitter dispute over an "unworkable" new system which left workers having to work longer hours.

Trade union PCS today announced that strikes by legal advisors and court associates will go ahead on October 22 to 30 - adding to chaos across the legal system.

The action is separate to industrial action announced earlier this year by barristers as pressure mounts on the government to reach a deal with workers.

Workers complain they are forced to work longer hours - often until midnight - to record case results on the controversial Common Platform system.

PCS members had been due to strike last month, but postponed the action following the death of the Queen.

Staff complain that the new system is 'unworkable' (Getty Images)

The system had been paused by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) for negotiations, but PCS confirmed today that these have failed.

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We’ve been left with no choice but to call strike action. Managers are ignoring the evidence in front of them – that Common Platform is simply unworkable.

“It’s adversely affecting our members’ health and their ability to do their jobs and is detrimental to the delivery of justice.

"HMCTS managers should listen to our members and stop the roll out immediately.”

Despite HMCTS saying trials were a success, a staff survey found tasks took longer, levels of stress increased, and work-life balance was negatively impacted.

Some have been forced to work until midnight to keep up, PCS said in a statement.

The courts affected are:

Aberystwyth Justice Centre

Aldershot Justice Centre

Barrow-In-Furness Magistrates' Court

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court

Brighton Magistrates' Court

Bristol Magistrates' Court and Tribunals Hearing Centre

Caernarfon Justice Centre

Cambridge Magistrates’ Court

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court

Carlisle Magistrates' Court

Crawley Magistrates’ Court

Crewe (South Cheshire) Magistrates' Court

Derby Magistrates' Court

Durham County Court and Family Court

Ealing Magistrates’ Court

Gateshead Law Courts

Grimsby Magistrates' Court and Family Court

Guildford Magistrates' Court and Family Court

Hastings Magistrates' Court

Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court

Hereford Justice Centre

High Wycombe Magistrates' Court and Family Court

Kidderminster Magistrates' Court

Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court

Lincoln Magistrates' Court

Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates’ Court

Liverpool Civil and Family Court

Llanelli Magistrates' Court

Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court

Manchester Magistrates’ Court

Mansfield Magistrates’ and County Court

Mid and South East Northumberland Law Courts

Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court and Family Court

Mold Justice Centre

Newcastle Upon Tyne Crown Court and Magistrates' Court

Newport (South Wales) Magistrates’ Court

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court

North Somerset Magistrates' Court

North Staffordshire Justice Centre

North Tyneside Magistrates' Court

Nottingham Magistrates Court

Oxford Magistrates' Court

Peterborough Magistrates' Court

Portsmouth Magistrates' Court

Reading Magistrates' Court and Family Court

Sefton Magistrates’ Court

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court

St Albans Magistrates' Court

Staines Magistrates’ Court and Family Court

Stockport Magistrates’ Court

Sunderland County, Family, Magistrates' and Tribunals Hearings

Swindon Magistrates' Court

Tameside Magistrates’ Court

Teesside Magistrates' Court

Telford Magistrates' Court

Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court

Warrington Magistrates’ Court

West Hampshire Magistrates' Court

Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court

Willesden Magistrates’ Court

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

Worcester Justice Centre

Worthing Magistrates’ Court

Yeovil County, Family and Magistrates’ Court

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.