Benefits staff in strike threat
Strike action could bring parts of Lincoln to a standstill in a row over redundancy pay-outs.
Public sector union members will begin balloting tomorrow over whether to strike about government plans to reduce pay-outs for sacked civil servants.
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City services such as Lincoln Crown Court could be affected by any strike action
The city's courts, tax and benefit offices and other official buildings could be forced to close if strike action does take place.
Bosses at the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) say they do not want to take what would initially be a two-day strike.
But they are warning the Government not to call their bluff.
Nick Parker, a senior PCS union official in the county, said: "What we are saying is that any plans to reduce protection for our members will lead to more people being compulsorily made redundant or having their jobs privatised.
"Nobody wants to take strike action, particularly with what we do.
"We offer a very valuable service to the public, but we want to protect ourselves and our services from being cut back."
The Government has proposed big cuts in redundancy terms, which can currently lead to payouts of up to six-and-a-half years worth of salary.
Analysts say the average severance payment is three years of pay — much more generous than most public sector schemes.
But union members say any plan to reduce that would hit staff hard at a time when the recession is hitting people in the pocket.
The ballot to consider industrial action will run until February 25, but insiders believe members will vote to strike if the Government does not change tack.
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by Cameron Love, Lincoln
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 1:14PM
“They should replace the Government with Tesco Directors..... I mean you dont hear their employees striking and yet they are on minimum wage while the profits are sky high, consumers feel they get a good service, and if someone complains they will strike cos they dont like it, they kick you out and then replace you with one of over 1,200 other applicants all desperate to do your job!
Ok, I know its nothing like..... but there are lessons to be learned on being fare to the employees but also stricter with them too. Most of these public sector workers think they are above everyone else in an economically fragile environment and deserve job protection, better payoffs and better pay in general during it! The problem is, everything has an equal and opposite effect and you give in to what they want, and some other sector will have to forfeit something to help pay for it!”
by Bob Jackson, Lincoln
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 1:05PM
“Yer i think Nick Parker does ware a few different hats thats for sure, who is he pretending to be today on here? i dare say high time the little fellow got a job that way he wont be on here all day with his silly comments lol the nobody man his new nick name get it Nick name h ha aha a”
by Voice O'Reason, Lincoln
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 10:37AM
“I'm quite surprised that Nick Parker finds the time to do any work with all the campaigining he does.
Anyone who reads the Echo will know that Mr Parker has many different 'hats', usually he is quoted as the 'leader of Lincoln Socialist Party'. Today it seems he is a senior PCS official. Is there nothing this loony left rabble won't get involved with. When will they realise, people don't want their extremist politics.... just ask the voters of Park Ward. What was the share of the vote for the Socialist Party there, I don't think it was very good.”
by Once a long time public servant, Lincolnshire
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 10:24AM
“It is understood that senior management within the Civil Service are still being paid bonuses and high salaries. It is them who collect vast amounts of redundancy payments when made redundant, retired, or posted to another department or agency. It is an old boys network similar to what goes on in the banking and financial world where millions are being paid out as bonuses and huge payments for so called services rendered.
But the ordinary worker whose work load is inundated with constant changes, target figures, and expected to work overtime to clear backlogs of work, is expected to cope with little financial reward.
Don't blame the worker for the political and financial mess which has caused the recession. It is not their fault. While MPs can have their pay rises, expenses paid, and receive pensions and severance payments when stepping down as an MP or not re-elected, why can't the ordinary civil servant receive some reward having been employed for years for services rendered? For they are the backbone of the public services not senior management who hob knob with government officials and ministers and receive financial rewards not disclosed to the public and kept under wraps.”
by rick, Lincoln
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 9:17AM
“its about time this government grew a backbone and stood up to these unions. if they dont like the reduced rate (which is most likely more than private companies redundancy payout), then dont give them anything at all. they should consider themselves lucky that they get as much as they do.”