Strike action over 'postcode pay'

Protesting staff outside Swansea Magistrates' Court

Thousands of civil servants in Wales are taking strike action as their union applauds Welsh political leaders for opposing "postcode pay levels".

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said 20,000 in Wales were due to join the May Day protests.

The action affected institutions including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea, coastguards and courts.

It came as parties began their final push before Thursday's assembly poll.

Political parties in Wales seem to be challenging their national leaders over this divisive issue Jeff Evans, PCS union

The PCS released the results of its questionnaire to the parties on its concerns, including plans to cut civil service jobs and the introduction of regional pay.

The union said UK government regional pay plans meant workers in Wales would receive less than in southern England.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has plans for different pay bands for court workers in different parts of Wales and England.

Court staff in London (L) and Cardiff (R) could be paid differently

The union said most court staff in Wales would go into the lowest pay bands.

The DCA said there was nothing new about regional pay, which was needed to attract and keep workers with the right skills in places such as London and Manchester.

The PCS said all civil service departments had been told to draw up regional pay plans.

'Not straightforward'

According to the PCS, Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan responded to its questionnaire by saying regional pay would mean "unacceptable inequality not only between Wales and other parts of the UK, but also within Wales."

Lib Dem Mike German told the union: "If you are doing the exactly the same job as another person in the public services you should be paid the same, no matter where you are located in the UK."

Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones told the union that the questions were "not straightforward" for his party. He said Plaid could see the union's arguments against regional pay from a UK perspective, and his party wanted eventually to see a Welsh civil service.

Mr Jones said Plaid wanted that Welsh civil service "to be well enough paid to avoid people seeking better paid jobs over the border," adding, "so while we are opposed to the regional pay proposals currently being debated, we are not opposed to levels of pay in Wales being determined at an all-Wales level."

Conservative Nick Bourne told the union his party was "not happy to sign up to a system that would mean lower pay for Wales and Welsh workers."

Driving test

Coastguards in Holyhead and Swansea are striking on Tuesday as part of the PCS action. At Holyhead there will be cover - but for search and rescue only.

Despite the strike the Driving Standards Agency is urging anyone with a driving test booked to still turn up

They say that tests will still go ahead with examiners who are not members of the PCS - and if not, a new date will be set automatically. Theory tests are not affected.

Jeff Evans, of the PCS in Wales, said: "We welcome the fact that political parties in Wales seem to be challenging their national leaders over this divisive issue which is potentially very damaging for the Welsh economy."

The union said its strike action was also in protest at job cuts and privatisation.