Child Support Agency staff to strike over DWP pay dispute

On Thursday the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced a two day strike by members working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Jobcentres, the Pension service and Child Support Agency in a dispute over pay.

The two day strike, followed by an overtime ban, will be held next week on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 December. The union said the strike comes as the DWP seek to impose a pay offer which would see approximately 40% of staff receivng no pay rise next year.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The government have got to start realising that its policies of cuts and driving down pay are not only damaging staff morale and services, but creating the conditions for systemic failure across the civil service. If the government and the department want to avoid damaging industrial action, then they need to re-start talks quickly on a fair pay deal for staff."

A DWP spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that PCS has decided to call this action. DWP will do everything necessary to minimise disruption to its customers and is confident that its services and payments will be maintained. The pay award we have implemented is a good one which particularly benefits our lowest paid staff and those at the lower end of their pay scales."