Jobcentre Staff to Strike
On Monday 18th April, Jobcentre Plus staff in Scotland will hold a 24-hour strike in protest to working conditions. Strike action was called as a last resort following a breakdown in negotiations last month. “A target driven culture” swayed 7, 000 of the Public and Commercial Services union members to vote in favour of industrial action.
PCS president, Jane Aitchison said:
“We are being prevented from providing a good quality service to the public because of unnecessary and unrealistic call centre targets.”
Further responsibility will be apportioned to Jobcentre staff who will be relied upon to use their expertise and discretion to judge on the best course of action for individual benefit claimants when the revised Work Capability Assessment is introduced this summer.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
“With unemployment rising and welfare recipients being blamed for an economic crisis they did not cause, it is outrageous that standards are being driven down in Jobcentre Plus.
“Instead of punishing people who are claiming benefits through no fault of their own, the Government should be investing in our public services to help get people back to work quicker and to help our economy to grow.”
Website: Press Association
Source:
Kuki Taylor
Research and Communications Officer
