THE biggest civil service industrial action in 17 years threatens to see thousands of staff in the South-West go on strike and cause massive disruption next week.
Workers in Taunton Deane, Wellington, West Somerset and Devon are among tens of thousands of staff who are set to stage a two-day walkout next Thursday and Friday, January 29-30.
The pay dispute is escalating fast and so far affects the Department of Work and Pensions, the Home Office, the Prison Service, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Treasury Solicitors.
The department for Work and Pensions is working on contingency plans to make sure pension and benefit payments would not be affected during the strikes.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: "Workers at the DWP would be on pay rates starting at £10,300 a year after the current pay rise has taken effect. These are appalling rates of pay."
A DWP statement said: "The DWP has made a substantial pay offer to staff. It is worth an average of five per cent and is targeted towards more junior, less well-paid staff."
For the full story, see this week's (January 23) Somerset County Gazette.
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