Civil service round-up

PCS union to fight in elections

Members of the PCS civil service workers’ union have voted overwhelmingly to allow use of the union’s political fund to support anti-cuts candidates in elections.

If no major parties oppose closures of public services and cuts, the PCS could support to local anti-cuts candidates in by-elections.

And it could support MPs who have supported struggles against cuts when they stand for re-election.

Home Office ballot

PCS union members in the Home Office are set to ballot from Wednesday of this week over strikes against a number of attacks.

These are job cuts, attacks on pay and the imposition of a new performance management system that will help bosses dismiss workers more easily, the threat of privatisation and victimisation of union reps.

The ballot is set to begin on 4 July and will run for two weeks. It could see action hit the Olympics.

National Gallery

PCS members at the National Gallery in London are planning for walkouts during the Olympics in their continuing dispute over job cuts.

Department for Work and Pensions ballot

In the Department for Work and Pensions, an ongoing ballot for strikes is due to close on 11 July. It is over working conditions at 32 call centres and involves 6,000 workers.

HMRC work to rule

Tax workers at HM Revenue and Customs have begun a work to rule. This continues a campaign against job cuts and privatisation that saw more than 55,000 tax workers strike last week.