Sheffield DWP contact centre workers strike to support PCS rep Lee Rock

Sheffield DWP contact centre workers strike to support PCS rep Lee Rock   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Sheffield DWP contact centre workers strike to support PCS rep

After a 62% vote for strike action, over 200 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members in the Sheffield DWP contact centre took one day of strike action on Tuesday 7 May in support of victimised and unfairly sacked union rep Lee Rock.

Around 20 pickets and supporters joined Lee on the picket line outside the Hartshead Square building.

Lee was sacked in February supposedly for his sickness record but at the time of dismissal he had not had a sick day for over 12 weeks and only 2.5 days in the previous six months.

The PCS union believes Lee has been treated harshly because he is a well known union rep who has been a thorn in management’s side.

Colleagues clearly understand that this victimisation is an attack on the trade union and if local management get away with this sacking then all workers will be in a weaker position.

Lee has had an appeal hearing and is awaiting the outcome. This strike plus the commitment by the branch committee to seek to ballot all Sheffield DWP branch members shows the union’s determination to win Lee’s reinstatement.

Alistair Tice