HMRC staff down tools as union strikes

HMRC staff are staging a walk out as part of union moves protesting against redundancy pay changes

The Public and Commercial Services union has advised up to 270,000 civil servants including Revenue workers to down tools for a 48-hour strike.

"The dispute is over changes to the civil service compensation scheme which will see staff robbed of up to a third of their entitlements and see loyal civil and public servants lose tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of a job," the PCS said.

"The union fears that the government wants to make it easier for whoever wins the general election to cut low paid civil and public servants on the cheap."

An HMRC spokeswoman said the exact number of Revenue staff was not known and customers coul experience delays, but every effort was being made to maintain services:

“HMRC is disappointed with the decision to strike and is doing everything it can to maintain services to the public.

“Whilst our customers may want to delay contacting us until Wednesday when the strike is over those who need to speak to us urgently can do so as our contact centres and enquiry centres are open for business. We are able to take calls on all our aspects of our business but customers may find it takes longer than usual to get through.”

Further reading:

Union outraged as 1,700 HMRC jobs under threat