Union battles civil service pay-off
Union leaders drove a "battle bus" through the constituency of a Government minister as part of a campaign against cuts in civil servants' redundancy pay which will lead to a strike during next week's Budget.Over 200,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will walk out next Wednesday - the first ever strike on Budget Day - as part of a long-running dispute which is set to run up to the general election.
Union leaders took to the streets of Cabinet Office minister Tessa Jowell's Dulwich constituency in south-east London as part of the build-up to next week's strike.
Ms Jowell has been leading the Government's case over cuts to redundancy pay, which the union maintains will cost civil servants tens of thousands of pounds.
The union has already held a 48-hour strike and is planning further industrial, political and legal action unless the dispute is settled.
Mark Serwotka, the union's general secretary, said: "The campaign bus in London is part of a national campaign day which sees PCS members up and down the country taking their message to cabinet ministers and MPs in key marginal seats.
"PCS members will not stand by and allow the Government to make it easier and cheaper for whoever forms the next government to cut civil and public servants.
"The result would be poorer services delivered to the public and hardworking civil and public servants losing tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of their job. The government needs to reach an agreement that protects existing members' entitlements if they are to avoid the disruption of strike action."
Mark Serwotka, the union's general secretary, said: "The campaign bus in London is part of a national campaign day which sees PCS members up and down the country taking their message to cabinet ministers and MPs in key marginal seats.
"PCS members will not stand by and allow the Government to make it easier and cheaper for whoever forms the next government to cut civil and public servants.
"The result would be poorer services delivered to the public and hardworking civil and public servants losing tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of their job. The government needs to reach an agreement that protects existing members' entitlements if they are to avoid the disruption of strike action."
© 2012 Press Association