Sheffield Government workers to strike over 250 job cuts plan

Workers at a Sheffield Government office who are set to lose their jobs and have their work moved to London are to go on strike next Thursday.
Workers at Sheffield's business department office are to go on strikeWorkers at Sheffield's business department office are to go on strike
Workers at Sheffield's business department office are to go on strike

A total of 247 jobs are set to go at the business department’s policy office in Sheffield, which is currently planned to be shut by 2018.

Around 150 members of the Public and Commercial Services union are now due to take part in a one-day strike on Thursday, May 19.

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In a ballot, 96 per cent of the 150 affected members voted for strikes on a 53 per cent turnout.

The union is also considering whether to arrange further strikes.

Business minister Anna Soubry said earlier this week that a final decision on the closure will be taken on May 23.

Ms Soubry said a ‘full assessment’ of the costs of the move is yet to be completed ahead of the department’s executive board making its decision.

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PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This vote sends the clearest possible message to BIS ministers and senior officials that these plans are wrong and must be reversed.

“The closure of this office is precisely the opposite of what the government claims to want for the north and the wider civil service.”

Calls have been made by MPs for the decision on the closure to be suspended until the National Audit Office investigates the financial case for the proposal.