14 December 2001
PCS general secretary-elect Mark Serwotka told Public Finance that claimants could miss out on Christmas payments because of the failure of the government and the union to resolve their dispute over security screens at the new Jobcentre Plus offices.
The union argues that the new offices should be fitted with security screens to protect staff against potentially violent claimants, but the Department for Work and Pensions believes that the open-plan units will reduce security risks.
Serwotka claimed that DWP Secretary Alistair Darling had 'deliberately and cynically' failed to negotiate with the union for a month prior to this week's two-day strike in order to exacerbate the impact of action taken by 1,600 benefits offices.
'This is a major safety issue for our workforce, but the DWP has shown no interest in settling the dispute,' he said.
Darling countered by describing the dispute as 'pointless'. He said: 'I am disappointed they are going ahead with the strike, even though only one in four of their members balloted supported it.
'We have proposals on the table that the union's National Disputes Committee recommended should be accepted but the Executive Committee rejected. We have asked the union to put forward specific suggestions but we are still waiting for a response.'
Darling said: 'We will continue to do all we can to maintain payments but a national strike will hit vulnerable people – many of whom depend entirely on the DWP for their income.'
PFdec2001
