Civil servants union PCS flag

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has called on ministers to intervene to prevent a 65-day strike by outsourced workers in five government departments.

Around 200 PCS members employed by OCS and G4S as caterers, cleaners and security guards in East Kilbride in Scotland announced strike action for the whole of December, while those employed by G4S as security guards in four government departments in Whitehall have said they will walk out for ten days in November and December.

The new strikes signal an escalation to ongoing disputes and come after PCS claims both G4S and OCS failed to offer an increased pay deal, failed to introduce company sick pay and failed to deliver an increase in annual leave.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “These strikes are completely avoidable if OCS and G4S do the right thing and table an improved offer for our members.

“Ministers, too, have a role to play in delivering these improvements to our members’ lives in line with the commitments made under the Make Work Pay agenda, so we call on them to intervene and support a resolution to the dispute.”

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