HMRC Employees to Ballot on Strike Action Amid Union Representative Dismissals

Employees of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are set to cast ballots regarding potential strike action, a development that follows the termination of employment for several union representatives. According to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, three elected representatives at HMRC’s Benton Park View site in Newcastle were terminated from their positions earlier in the year. The union stated their dismissal was for “demanding fair pay, pensions and jobs”. Over 200 members of the union are participating in the ballot, which comes after the PCS union reported that management had declined to reinstate the representatives. An HMRC spokesperson indicated that the organization refrains from commenting on matters related to staff employment. Fran Heathcote, the general secretary for PCS, articulated the union’s belief that the involvement of the three representatives in last year’s successful industrial action concerning pay constituted the “real reason why they were sacked”. Ms. Heathcote further stated, “Local management has clearly decided to attack the branch, to try to make it harder for the union to organise action in the future.” She added, “It’s not too late for HMRC managers to avoid strike action and the subsequent disruption to services if they do the decent thing and reinstate our reps.” The voting process is scheduled to commence on Monday and conclude on 9 December.