Anger Grows At Job Cuts

SIAN RUDDICK is on the group executive of the PCS for the Department of
Work and Pensions (DWP) and is also the regional chair for the PCS in the
DWP in the West Midlands. This area is facing the largest batch of office
closures in Scotland, England and Wales. Seven offices are threatened –
out of a total of 37.

"WE HAVE a meeting with management on 20 September and we need to
assess what jobs are threatened, whether redeployment is offered and what
jobs will be lost.

"I’ve spoken to some members in one of the threatened offices and
there is absolute anger there. People are concerned and we are getting
more people joining the union in order to come out on strike on 5
November.

"It’s mainly social security offices that are closing, that
provide an across the board service. Shrewsbury is an office which deals
with quite a large geographical area which people have to travel to get
to. The new plans will leave a small JobCentre there but that will not be
able to deal with all the inquiries and so it will mean a worsening
service for the public.

"These offices are already stretched as it is and you are going to
get more people going into a smaller number of offices for advice and
help. This will put pressure on the staff who will find it hard to cope
with the numbers. People will get frustrated if they have to wait, can’t
get their benefits sorted or their inquiry dealt with.

"The national strike affects all the civil service but obviously
DWP management are moving very quickly and we are going to have to take
that on board in our campaigning and involving community groups, welfare
groups and the public to assist our struggle.

"More people are wanting to do things in the union now and more
people are getting involved because of the anger they feel at the
government’s plans."