Civil service strike fears grow

The union want the government to make guarantees over jobs

Thousands of government workers nationwide could be balloted for strike action, union bosses have warned.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) wants guarantees that there will be no compulsory job cuts.

Union bosses fear that up to 29 wildlife officers in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs could soon be made redundant.

That move could open the floodgates for more wide-ranging civil service cuts in the future, the union fears.

Change

General Secretary of the PCS union Mark Serwotka will recommend a ballot for a series of strikes across 200 government departments and agencies unless the aforementioned guarantees are given.

In a statement, the Cabinet Office said it would continue to try to avoid compulsory redundancies.

In September, Mr Serwotka said there had to be a change of government policy.

He said: "If there is not a fundamental reappraisal of policies it will do nothing to resolve problems we are facing."