The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has announced the start of its programme of “sustained industrial action” – but the Land Registry is not amongst the initial cohort of government departments that will strike.
In a statement, the PCS said:
“We met with the Cabinet Office this week, but they did not make any proposals that address our demands for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms.
Therefore, the union’s elected National Executive Committee (NEC) met today and agreed an initial programme of hard-hitting, targeted action in the Home Office, including the Border Force, across the Department for Transport and in Defra, affecting ports, borders and all areas of transport.”
Responding to the PCS’ decision to move forward with targeted action, the Land Registry said it has noted the PCS’ decision and suggested it will begin making provisions should it be called upon to strike. In the event of strikes, HMLR said:
“We will prioritise time-critical services required for property transactions to continue, including pre-completion searches (the majority of which are automated) and urgent applications that have been expedited.
We will closely monitor any impacts and respond as necessary to deliver the essential services required to support the property market.”
Should no proposals be made from the Cabinet Office soon regarding the 10% pay rise, the NEC will meet again to consider further strikes – which may include the Land Registry – with a “substantial strike fund” available to support members to carry the campaign into 2023 if necessary.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
“PCS members are angry. They helped to keep this country running during the pandemic, and in return, have been treated appallingly by this government. With inflation now at 11.1%, it is inconceivable that they are expected to cope with yet another real terms pay cut.
With 10,000s of members on poverty pay it is no longer about tightening belts, but about choosing between heating and eating – and that is simply not acceptable for the government’s own workforce.
We have made it clear to the Cabinet Office that we are available for talks throughout this period. I hope that they do the right thing and come back to the table prepared to meet our demands. If not, then we are prepared to do what we need to do to show them the value of our members’ work once they withdraw their labour.”
