Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take industrial action from today (Tuesday 22nd April) in a dispute over office closures and mandatory office attendance.
A ballot of over 1000 civil servants earlier in April resulted in a vote for strike action after the MHCLG revealed plans to close offices in Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle, Sheffield, Truro and Warrington.
Members working in Newcastle will walk out for nine days from 22nd April to 2nd May, while those working in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Truro and Warrington will walk out for four days from from 22nd to 25th April.
The PCS Union is also using the strike to hit back at the mandatory office attendance policies introduced in 2024 which requires 60% office attendance for most staff. The Civil Service says senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time ‘to maximise the benefits of hybrid working and getting the best from being together’ adding its approach was comparable to other large private and public sector employers.
Commenting on the industrial action PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said
“It’s high time the government and the ministry began to listen to their staff and put an end to these reckless, regressive decisions to close local offices while rigidly enforcing mandatory office attendance.”
“They should start thinking strategically, considering the vital projects that local offices deliver for our communities, and enhancing flexibility to allow staff to choose how and where they perform their jobs in a manner that benefits both them and the communities we serve.”
