UK passport office staff embark on 5-week strike over pay, pension dispute

Passport office workers in the UK have begun a five-week strike.

The action is a result of a long-running dispute over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.

The strike will take place from April 3 to May 5 and will involve more than 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

In a statement announcing the strike, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, accused ministers of mistreating employees.

“This escalation of our action has come about because, in sharp contrast with other parts of the public sector, ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting 6 months,” the statement reads.

“Their approach is further evidence they’re treating their own workforce worse than anyone else. They’ve had six months to resolve this dispute but for six months have refused to improve their 2% imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members’ other issues of concern.

“They seem to think if they ignore our members, they’ll go away. But how can our members ignore the cost-of-living crisis when 40,000 civil servants are using foodbanks and 45,000 of them are claiming the benefits they administer themselves?

“It is a national scandal and a stain on this government’s reputation that so many of its own workforce are living in poverty.”

The union said a strike fund will support the passport office staff who are undertaking the industrial action.