Staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have condemned what their union calls a "new low" from the benefits department, as more than 80 jobs are now at risk of redundancy at a Lincoln site.
Strike Action Announced Over Job Losses
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has confirmed that its members will take strike action from 1 December until 2 January. This industrial action comes in response to a DWP letter sent on Wednesday, which formally notified staff at the Lincoln City Hall site that their positions were at risk.
Ian Fisher, the union branch chair, did not hold back in his criticism. "To announce redundancies only after the escalation of industrial action is a new low for the DWP, who have failed to have any empathy throughout this whole process," he stated.
A Betrayal of Dedicated Staff
The union has accused the DWP of prolonging the uncertainty for its members. According to the PCS, colleagues have consistently made it clear that they want to keep their jobs, not receive redundancy payouts.
"Colleagues have repeatedly asserted their preference for continued employment over redundancy pay-outs, making clear they want jobs, not compensation," Mr Fisher emphasised.
Fran Heathcote of the PCS added that long-serving employees were "being cast aside with little remorse" despite "giving decades of dedicated service to the DWP."
DWP Response and Community Backlash
In its defence, the DWP has stated that redeployment for staff had been a "first priority" and that a voluntary redundancy scheme is available. Rob Clarbour, the national services leader, wrote in the letter, "I understand that changes like this can cause upset and uncertainty." He assured staff that the department remained committed to supporting them.
However, this has done little to quell the anger. Bradley Wall, secretary of Lincoln and District Trades Council, said the strike decision shows "the strength, pride and determination of Lincoln's workforce." He powerfully added, "Closing this office would be a betrayal, not just of the staff but of Lincolnshire itself."
The DWP has previously justified the changes as part of a move towards "fewer, larger, more economically viable sites," noting that the affected workers do not see customers face-to-face.
