More than 200 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are to strike for two weeks over the Christmas period. Workers at three offices in Liverpool and one in Doncaster will walk out from December 19 to December 31.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union say that the action is part of its national campaign for a 10% pay rise, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms. It adds that the “targeted” action would cover only a fraction of the union’s DWP members, but warned more dates are likely to follow.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members have been plunged into ever-increasing depths of poverty. It’s a disgrace that our members in the DWP – the government’s own employees – are claiming the benefits they pay out to others.
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A DWP spokesman said: “We greatly value the work of our staff but the PCS Union’s demands would cost the country an unaffordable £2.4 billion when the focus must be on bringing down inflation to ease the burden on households, protect the vulnerable and rebuild our economy. Benefits, the state pension and child maintenance payments are paid automatically and people who rely on that support will continue to receive it.”
When will DWP staff be on strike?
Members of the PCS union in offices in Liverpool and Doncaster will strike from December 19 to 31.
Could the DWP strike affect benefit payments?
As payments, including pensions, universal credits and child maintenance, are paid automatically, any payments you’re expecting will arrive as usual. However, the union says that they expect the strike may disrupt benefit “conditionality” interviews.
If you’re worried
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