Up to 7,000 Public and Commercial Services union members on strike in kent
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by Katie Lamborn
Around 6,500 civil servants in Kent have walked out today over
plans to reduce redundancy payouts.
The action is set to affect the UK Border Agency at the
county's crossing points as well as job centres, benefit offices,
courts and tax centres.
The Port of Dover said today it was "business as usual"
despite industrial action by members of the Public and
Commercial Services Union.
The nationwide walkout by 270,000 members is the biggest
outbreak of industrial unrest in the service since 1987.
Nigel Buller, a union official who is picketing with
customs officers at the Channel Tunnel, said: "Passengers won't
probably be affected, they may just see a lack of control at the
border.
"It's a great shame because we are professional people who take
great pride in what we do but we have been forced into this
situation by the government."
The RMT has given its full support to the PCS over
their fight to defend the working conditions of their members.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said his union was currently
balloting Network Rail staff for action. "We need to send out a
clear and united message from the trade union movement that attacks
on jobs, safety and workers rights will be met with the strongest
possible resistance," he said.
"The politicians and the employers need to understand that there
will be no easy ride in the race to the bottom on public service
cuts and the undermining of pay and conditions."
Monday, March 08 2010
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