Benefits staff in strike threat

By [bbanks]

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.

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.