North East courts staff to walk out as part of nine-day national strike this month

Several North East courts will take part in a national strike later this month, it has been confirmed.

The UK trade union for civil and public servants (PCS) announced on Friday that 65 magistrates’ courts across England and Wales will see legal advisors and court associates walk out. The industrial action will take place over nine days from 22 to 30 October, after it was previously postponed following the Queen’s death .

Workers have voted for the action in a bid for changes to be made to the controversial Common Platform digital system, which is used to access case information. Union bosses have branded the system “unworkable”, with staff complaining that they are forced to work longer hours - often until midnight - to record results, The Mirror reports .

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These walk-outs are separate to industrial action announced earlier this year by barristers, who are currently voting on whether to call off their indefinite strike. The list of North East courts where staff are taking part in strikes is as follows:

• Durham County Court and Family Court

• Gateshead Law Courts

• Mid and South East Northumberland Law Courts

• Newcastle Upon Tyne Crown Court and Magistrates' Court

• Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court

• North Tyneside Magistrates' Court

• South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court

• Sunderland County, Family, Magistrates' and Tribunals Hearings

PCS 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.”

The strikes will be the latest of many that have taken place across the UK this year, with Royal Mail workers taking to picket lines in recent weeks. Fresh walk-outs by rail workers and bus drivers are also taking place this month, while teachers and nurses are currently being balloted on whether to take industrial action.

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