By Richard Johnstone | 30 July 2014
Civil servants at Revenue & Customs will today begin a three-day walkout across the country to protest job cuts.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services union are striking to coincide with the deadline for tax credit renewals and a key date for self-assessment payments, with thousands of employees expected to take part in action.
Strikes will take place in the northwest of England and Wales today, followed by Scotland and the Midlands tomorrow. Union members in Yorkshire and Humberside and northern England will strike on Friday, as well as those in London and the southeast, the southwest and east of England, and Northern Ireland.
HMRC has announced it plans to make more than 2,000 fixed-term workers redundant, and the union highlighted that the department was closing offices – including all 281 walk-in tax enquiry centre – which could hit tax collection.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘HMRC plays an essential role in our economy and our society, collecting the taxes that fund the other public services we all rely on. But it is being systematically undermined by unnecessary and politically motivated cuts.
‘These strikes demonstrate we are serious about stopping these damaging cuts and making a positive case for proper investment in this crucial department.’
