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Government IT workers to vote on strike action

More than 1,000 employees working on government computer contracts, including people in Newcastle and Washington, have started voting on whether to strike in a row over jobs and pay.

The Public and Commercial Services union said the ballot of its members at EDS/Hewlett Packard will close on November 30, warning of a series of one- or two-day strikes if there is support for industrial action.

Officials said there was “growing anger” over job losses and a pay freeze among staff working on IT contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions in locations around the UK.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Staff have been contributing significantly to the firm’s revenue, whilst shouldering greater workloads and helping to generate good profit levels. Yet their reward is more job cuts, imposed pay freezes and pleas from the company to take a voluntary pay cut.

“We will be urging members to deliver a strong yes vote and tell management that enough is enough.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .