All Senedd business scheduled for a day of major strike action has been rearranged. More than 100,000 civil servants are set to strike next Wednesday (February 1) in an escalation of action by the PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) against the UK Government.
Although the Senedd Commission is not in any formal negotiations with unions representing its staff, the business committee has voted to reschedule Wednesday's meetings in a show of solidarity. Presiding officer Elin Jones said: "The strike on February 1 is as a result of a dispute with the UK Government on a series of broader principles — a pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts in redundancy terms. As a Commission, we respect the right of trade union members to strike."
The one-day action will see walkouts across 124 UK Government departments in the largest civil service strike for many years. Employees of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and others will take part.
The Senedd building will remain open to visitors on Wednesday and tours will continue as usual. Agenda items will be reallocated to other meetings so no business will be lost. The Pierhead building will be closed for the day.
The presiding officer (llywydd) said: "The Commission is not involved in any formal negotiations with trade unions representing Commission staff at present. The current pay arrangements of the Commission are in place until March 2025, and the Commission enjoys a positive partnership with its local officials."
And a PCS spokesperson said: “We welcome the solidarity shown by those Members of the Senedd who voted to move scheduled parliamentary business to alternative dates, in sympathy with the industrial action by our members. This means that our action has already had a tangible effect and this will contribute to the message that will be sent to UK ministers by the many thousands of PCS members who will be striking on Wednesday.”
Earlier this month, more than 2,000 PCS members in the Welsh Government and National Museum of Wales started a ballot for strike action over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security. The ballot results are expected at the end of February.
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