Vote 'yes' in PCS ballot

A STRIKE ballot involving nearly 300,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) is under way. The ballot, for action against job cuts, low pay and cuts in services and working conditions, will close on 23 January.

Action is scheduled to start with a one-day strike on 31 January, followed by a two-week overtime ban.

Marion Lloyd, a member of the PCS NEC, spoke to the socialist in a personal capacity.

"THE EFFECTS of the drive towards 104,000 job losses are beginning to bite in terms of workload, stress levels and service to the public. We are now expecting more compulsory redundancies throughout the civil service, including in the Learning and Skills Council and the Ministry of Defence.

"The government are going full steam ahead with their 'reform' of the public sector. We can either sit back and allow them to continue to attack our jobs, terms and conditions and attack crucial services - not just in benefits but education, tax, customs, prisons - you name it we do it. Or we can stand up and fight for what we believe in.

"We work inside the public sector because we have chosen to. We stand between it and the government's attacks. So I urge every PCS member to vote 'yes' in the ballot."