Civil servants to strike on budget day

The PCS union are organising a third day of strike action on Budget Day, 24 March, to protest aginst the government's unilateral ending of their redundancy scheme. The government wants to make it cheaper to sack civil servants.

Budget day tomorrow is when the Chancellor explains his plans for restoring the national finances. Unfortunately, a lot of that is going to be done through cuts in public services, including cutting the number of staff delivering services.

I'll be visiting some of the picket lines around Barnet.

Here is a list - if you are nearby and want to know more about the dispute do go and ask the PCS members there. If it's not specified, please assume that you should go in the morning. Many civil servants are likely to go down to a central London rally in Parliament Square which is from 11am to 2pm.

North London Revenue Branch will be staging a picket outside Capitol House, 794 Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill, London N21 from 7-10am.

London Customs Branch will be staging a picket outside Berkeley House, 304 Regents Park Road, Finchley, London N3.

Jobcentres - there are likely to be pickets at most of the Jobcentres although you might have to go around to the staff entrances to find them!

Here from the Barnet Press is an account of the first two days' successful action on 8-9 March.