UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Cleaning and catering workers at Number 10 are set to strike for a month over pay and working conditions, with unions pushing for government intervention.
As reported by The Guardian, Downing Street may face disruptions as workers at Number 10 prepare for a month-long strike over pay.
What led to the month-long strike at Number 10?
The upcoming protest at Number 10 and the Cabinet Office will take place from 24 February to 25 March, extending a broader dispute that has already affected various government departments.
Representing affected employees, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union is urging salary increases and improved employment terms, including leave days. The union is also pressing the Labour government to integrate outsourced personnel into permanent official roles.
Employees working under the facility services provider ISS hold permanent roles within these departments. While the PCS union insists that the government should resolve the dispute, the Cabinet Office maintains that the issue is ISS’s responsibility.
Which government departments are joining the strike?
The strike action will include workers at Number 10 and the Cabinet Office, along with employees from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Education, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Department for Business and Trade. Their salaries will be paid by the PCS union during the walkout.
The inclusion of Number 10 workers carries significant importance due to the scrutiny their work received amid revelations of lockdown breaches at Number 10 during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership.
How Number 10 cleaners face disrespect amid lockdown party scandals?
Findings from an official inquiry revealed instances of red wine spills that cleaning staff were tasked with removing, along with numerous incidents of disrespect directed at cleaning personnel and security officers.
Since October, workers in certain departments have engaged in intermittent strikes. A recent PCS vote has now paved the way for an extension. Picket lines will be in place, but ministers and civil servants are permitted to pass through, as they are not directly involved in the dispute.
What is the PCS urging ministers to do regarding outsourcing?
The PCS union has urged government ministers to follow through on previous commitments to reduce outsourcing of roles like catering, cleaning, and security within public sector departments.
The union claims that a possible settlement to the dispute is awaiting approval from the Cabinet Office, though the matter has stalled for months.
How did the Cabinet Office respond to union claims?
The Cabinet Office rejected the union’s claims, stating that negotiations should be handled by ISS or external employers, not the government. It pointed out that the Government Property Agency, which manages office buildings, holds the contracts rather than individual government departments.
A representative from PCS stated that current agreements with PCS and other outsourcing companies like G4S and OCS will expire in three years. The official urged for discussions on an urgent basis to move employees to civil service contracts.
As per data from 2022, approximately 400 individuals, including civil servants and special advisers, are employed within 10, 11, and 12 Downing Street. Their duties cover a variety of positions within the buildings.