STRIKE action has hit all seven UK passport offices today.
Up to 2,500 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union working for the Identity and Passports Service (IPS) have walked out over an ongoing pay dispute.
A spokesman for the union told of staff’s anger at a below inflation pay rise of 1% despite the price hike of UK passports by 21% to £51 in November last year and another increase of 29% to £66 this month.
The PCS’s general secretary, Mark Serwotka commented: “Today’s action could have been avoided if IPS management, rather than cancelling pay negotiations, had stuck to their word in seeking to resolve this year’s pay claim as a matter of urgency.”
The IPS assured customers that their service standards had not been affected by the strike and no delays should be expected. A work to rule following the strike is to be met with extensive contingency plans to avoid further disruption.
The IPS is waiting for the Treasury’s decision to restart pay negotiations.