17 March 2023 , 08:02
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Over 1,000 Passport Office workers will strike for FIVE weeks as holidaymakers are warned of a "significant impact" on passport delivery as summer looms.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union announced the "significant" escalation in industrial action and accused the Government of failing to engage in "meaningful" talks.
The union, which represents civil servants, said the action in England, Scotland and Wales will begin next month on April 3 and last until May 5.
Those involved in the action include over 1,000 staff working in Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough and Southport.
Workers at the Belfast office could also join the walkout - subject to a ballot which closes over the weekend.
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The PCS warned on Friday that the strike action is likely to have a "likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of passports as the summer approaches".
Last year as Covid restrictions across the globe were lifted there was "unprecedented" demand on the Passport Office as people attempted to renew their documents.
People queuing outside the passport office in Peterborough in 2022 (PA)The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a recent report that between January and September 2022 the Passport Office received 7.2million applications.
While 95% of customers received their documents within 10 weeks, a staggering 360,000 experienced longer waits.
In a statement, the PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This escalation of our action has come about because, in sharp contrast with other parts of the public sector, ministers have failed to hold any meaningful talks with us, despite two massive strikes and sustained, targeted action lasting six months.
"Their approach is further evidence they're treating their own workforce worse than anyone else."
Mr Serwotka added: "They've had six months to resolve this dispute but for six months have refused to improve their 2% imposed pay rise, and failed to address our members' other issues of concern.
"They seem to think if they ignore our members, they'll go away. But how can our members ignore the cost-of-living crisis when 40,000 civil servants are using foodbanks and 45,000 of them are claiming the benefits they administer themselves?
"It's a national scandal and a stain on this government's reputation that so many of its own workforce are living in poverty."
The Passport Office is one of just dozens of Government departments taking part in strike action in their dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
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The annoucement of escalated action came as health unions representing ambulance workers and nurses reached a new offer with ministers on Thursday.
The offer - backed by the Royal College of Nursing, the GMB and Unison - includes a one-off lump sum for 2022-23 that rises in value up the NHS pay bands as well as a permanent 5% rise on all pay points for 2023-24.