Civil servants plan second day of strikes

The Public and Commercial Services union said almost 250,000 members who work in government departments and its related bodies will hold a half-day walkout on April 5, the end of the tax year.

The union has called a 24-hour stoppage on Wednesday to coincide with the Budget after accusing the Government of refusing to negotiate over cuts.
Budget day strike

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We will quickly follow up our budget day strike with a walkout on April 5 and step up our campaigning for the Government to take serious action against wealthy tax dodgers.

“With polls showing people are less likely to support government policies if George Osborne’s name is attached, it is clear the public have lost faith in austerity and want an alternative.”

The union is planning a three-month programme of industrial action and a fresh campaign against tax avoidance and evasion.

Ministers are being urged by the Treasury to scrap decades-old civil service pay arrangements that allow staff to progress from minimum starting levels up a series of pay bands within their grade, the PCS said.