Civil servants - will you be striking on 1st Feb?

[Iamnotausername]

I know you probably can't say what dept you are in but will you be striking?

I will.

Why will you be striking? I don't know much about this dispute and the arguments for / against.

Why are you seeking validation for your strike action? It's a personal decision.

What civil servants are striking ? I also haven’t heard of this via the media etc.

@LeevMarie I'm not seeking validation. I will be striking I'm just curious about others.

www.pcs.org.uk/campaigns/pcs-pay-pensions-jobs-campaign/pcs-national-industrial-action-ballot-results-2022/list

All member strike action called for 1 February

We didn’t meet threshold in my employer, but will be supporting all those who are going out!

OK, why are you striking? Will anybody notice?

@LeevMarie some depts will definitely impact on the general public.

By that I mean, directly face to face to DVLA. Others are more "back office" eg Home Office but still affect day to day life.

No as I’m not in that union.

We still haven't established why you're striking. . .

Most people understand precisely why nhs staff are dissatisfied. What is your union hoping to achieve?

Details of why are in this article

https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/100000-civil-servants-strike-pcs-union-1-february-one-day-action

"PCS is campaigning is for a 10% pay rise, changes to pensions arrangements, job security and the abandonment of proposed cuts to redundancy terms."

We also didn't meet threshold but I support those striking

Retired Civil Servant here, wages, as in so many public services, have been static for many years now. It has gotten to the stage now that some in the DWP are processing their own claims for UC.
I don't think many of the general public realise how a strike of Civil Servants can massively impact their lives from benefits, the Court Service, borders, passports etc.
Unfortunately the Tories have only got themselves to blame, for years of staff cuts (usually experienced staff) and no realistic wage rises.

My agency also didnt meet the threshold but i will support!

We weren't balloted in my union, not sure our agency were part of this round.

Would I go out on strike over pay and conditions? Yes.

I'm on the bottom rung of the pay scale. When I add in my unpaid overtime, I earn less than minimum wage. I work in a very skilled job that almost every single person on this forum relies on.

Yes, I could find another job but if everyone in my position did that, the country would grind to a halt. That's genuingely not exaggerating.

Plus, redundancy threat at the same time as an attempt to reduce the redundancy terms and ongoing issues with pensions.

No, I’m not part of a union and to my knowledge my area/department hasn’t voted to strike either.

I’ve only been in the civil service for about a year and I feel that I’m fairly compensated for what I do and that I have good working conditions. I totally understand why people in other roles, and especially those who’ve been in the service a long time and seen their pay effectivelydrop, want to strike and support that. But even if I had the option Im
not sure if it would be fair for to join in.

@riotlady I am glad you feel you are treated well and recognised. 😊 Like everything, people have to make decisions on what they see and whether they feel they are being treated fairly.

I know Some of my colleagues are really struggling with this. In my dept, particularly the staff who have been around a while have tremendous loyalty to the organisation. They feel forced to strike but it's causing them genuine anxiety and upset to be having to. When the union contacted people, many people responded by asking how the work would get done and concern that non-striking members would have even more pressure placed on them. It was a really hard decision for many.

No longer a civil servant and I was FDA previously so different union but just to say I fully support you and your colleagues in striking. Terms and conditions have been declining for years.

Ignore the goady posts.

I think people would be genuinely surprised how little the lower and middle grades actually earn, and how much responsibility we have.

I will. Love my job and do this reluctantly, but they need to sort out pay as a priority. If it comes to more than one day of action, though, I am going to have to seriously think about the financial implications of striking because that’s into my food budget. Which is exactly the problem. I’m a junior manager ffs!

The decision to vote to strike is not easy for anyone. I’m not best pleased but thats the decision of the membership. You can’t cherry pick the aspects of union membership which suit you. I think the nurses, paramedics etc also feel ‘forced’ to strike.

It shouldnt be the expectation that any non union members would attempt to cover the work of those colleagues who choose to strike. The point is after all to disrupt services

Exactly but it shows that people aren't doing it for fun and feel forced to. Most of the CS I know accross a few depts are dedicated and it wasn't surprising to me that their first thoughts were about the work and their colleagues.

Not sure I know what you mean about cherry picking though?

In the union and we have a mandate in my department so it looks like I will be.

@RaininSummer you can refuse to strike. I don' think a union can make you? I guess from a supporting colleagues pov you may feel obliged to though?

I left the Civil Service last year due to constant staff cuts and recruitment freezes meaning my team of 10 became a team of 4 with impossible workload which also involved staffing a 24/7 service so working 1 in 4 weekends too (had been 1 in 10). That coupled with no pay rise for 10yrs so earning the same as I could in an unqualified, less responsibility, less stress, 9-5 private sector role meant it just didn't make sense to stay. If I was still CS I would be striking.