Jessica BirdMembers of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working at six Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) offices, overseen by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, have voted in favour of strike action and action short of a strike.
The vote came in response to proposed office closures and the imposition of management policies around attendance and recruitment.
The ballot, which closed on 26th March, revealed strong support for industrial action, with around 80% of members voting for strike action and more than 90% backing action short of a strike.
The union said that the vote reflected growing discontent over the department’s approach to office closures, top-down management decisions on office attendance, and recent changes to recruitment practices.
According to the MHCLG, the closure of six office locations over a two-year period will aim to ensure staff can work closer together, and access better career pathways and senior support.
The department said it would continue to grow its presence outside London, with 45% of staff currently working in the regions, compared with 23% in 2020.
The MHCLG said it would maintain a presence in every English region and UK nation, developing five larger offices in London, Wolverhampton, Darlington, Manchester and Bristol, and retaining a presence in Nottingham, Leeds, Cambridge and Plymouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Liverpool, Hemel Hempstead, Hastings and Norwich.
Over the next two years, however, the MHCLG confirmed that it would close offices in Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle, Sheffield, Truro and Warrington.
Further ballots are currently underway for PCS members based at other MHCLG locations.
Members have been asked to support their colleagues and to oppose the department’s use of arbitrary, percentage-based office attendance policies and revised recruitment strategies.
The second ballot is due to close on 9th April.
David Jones, PCS MHCLG branch chair and one of the staff directly affected by the Birmingham office closure, said: “If the deputy prime minister is serious about the importance of trade union engagement, and backing working people to take their voice back, to improve their terms and conditions then she could start by listening to her own staff about the issues impacting them in her own department.
“If further escalation is to be avoided, then we will need to see meaningful movement from the department.”
A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We will continue to engage with unions and staff about a number of proposals – including plans to expand five offices outside of London and close six offices over the next two years, as leases come to an end.
“The department will continue to have offices in every English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all staff affected will be able to continue in their roles in one of these locations.”
PCS MHCLG confirmed that members’ meetings will be held shortly to discuss the outcome of the ballot and to determine next steps.
