Strike at passport office threat

Workers have been picketing outside Liverpool passport office as part of a national protest over pay and cutbacks.

A number of staff holding placards reading "don't stamp out our service" have been giving out leaflets outside the office in Old Hall Street.

The three-day stoppage is intended to disrupt travel plans and may delay the processing of up to 60,000 passports.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said about 440 of the 450 members in Liverpool were striking.

The protest is over a dispute with a 2.5% pay deal, which has not been awarded to all staff.

Unions said the longest-serving employees had not received a pay rise for the fifth year running. Staff were also angry at the government's passport office closure programme.

"If the queues get longer, people will get annoyed"
Heidi Barker, customer

PCS spokesman Paul Jones, who has worked in the office for 20 years, said bosses had hinted three months ago that there would only be two or three regional passport offices in the future after a reorganisation.

"In effect, the rest of the offices may face closure or serious job cuts," he said.

"We want more transparency for the business plan and what's happening to members.

"We want a gold standard service. The IPS has been a beacon in the public sector."

The Liverpool office was open on Wednesday but was only running a "limited, emergency service", Mr Jones said.

Many customers using the Liverpool office backed the action.

Passport problems

Heidi Barker, 30, said: "I had to come from Preston today but if this office closes, I don't know how far away the next one is.

"I didn't know the strike was taking place but I support it if it stops this office from closing."

But Ms Barker warned that it might be hard to keep the public on side if the office was busy because of the strike.

"I'm using the one-day service and there was no queue. If the queues get longer, people will get annoyed," she added.

Striking worker Rob Barton, 52, of Fazakerley in Liverpool, said: "We are actually fighting to keep the passport office open and if the passport office goes, it will be a lot harder to get your passport than it is now.

"So we are actually fighting on their (the customers') behalf, if you like, as well as our own interests."

An Identity and Passports Service (IPS) spokesman said: "IPS will strive to maintain a service to the public and keep any inconvenience to a minimum during the period of the strikes."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Public and Commercial Services Union
UK Identity and Passport Service
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites