The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union says it is balloting members over potential strike action at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in a stand off with the government over office closures, rigid attendance policies, and changes to recruitment practices.
More than 1,100 PCS union members work in MHCLG offices, the department run by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The PCS union have announced they will ballot members and warns the government that plans to close six regional offices will be a ‘significant blow to the government’s own manifesto mission to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity.’ The offices are Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle, Sheffield, Truro, and Warrington.
“The government’s actions are in stark contradiction to its own promises. First, The Deputy Prime Minister is championing the Employment Rights Bill, promising to improve workers’ rights, yet risks having her own workers taking strike action. And second, the department cannot claim to empower local communities while stripping away the very support they need
said PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote.
“The impact of these closures won’t just be felt by staff; it will affect local government, housing projects, and even emergency response efforts. We call on the Deputy Prime Minister to intervene and stop this dispute before it starts.”
MHCLG may potentially follow colleagues in HM Land Registry (HMLR) who voted in favour of industrial action at the end of 2024. Since 21st January a period of ‘indefinite industrial action’ has commenced with HMLR workers refusing to cover for their colleagues or take on extra work outside their job description or grade following a dispute over mandatory office attendance and what was described as ‘inappropriate use of personal data and having to accept extra responsibilities without extra pay.
There are two ballots being run, one in the six offices at risk of closure that finishes on 26th March and one for all the other offices that finishes on 9th April.
