passport office workers strike for 5 weeks may affect applications

photome

Just seen on BBC news website, passport office workers to go on strike April 3rd for 5 weeks

HampshireH

I'm amazed people can afford to strike for 5 weeks. That said I guess they choose what days they want to strike/work so it stays affordable?

Have family who is a teacher on part time hours and they just couldn't afford to strike without working extra days to make up the pay. 

TadleyBaggie

My wife and & I both had passports that where to expire in August, glad I did the renewal a few weeks ago. Only took 2 weeks and not up to 10 as suggested.

TELLIT01

Thankfully we aren't travelling until the end of September.  I'm going to get the photo's done and apply in the next couple of days anyway.  That was always the plan before we heard about the strike.

smudge56

Wouldn’t worry too much about it. Most of the work is done by agency workers who won’t be striking   Oh and the staff haven’t been told they are striking  so take that how you will 😏

TELLIT01

Many lower grade Civil Service staff can't afford to strike for a day, never mind 5 weeks.  Serwotka will be fine as he will remain on full pay.  When I worked in the Civil Service I would estimate that generally less than 1/3rd of union members actually went on strike.  There were also many non-union employees too.

gt568

The union is covering the wages for the strikers for the entire time.

powerful_Rogue

This is targetted strike action and as such PCS will be paying the wages out of the fighting fund.

strawb_shortcake

I saw a message come up at work today saying PCS is going to be balloting our department again to strike.

Following the expected success in the NHS and Rail strikes, they seem to be thinking they now have greater chance securing us a better pay deal.