More than 400 HMRC staff will strike for a total of 18 days from next week – but the tax authorities claim it has a ‘robust plan’ to deal with it…
- Customer service advisors are walking away for three days on May 10
- Union predicts strikes will cause ‘considerable problems’
- Further strikes planned in May and early June
HMRC has claimed it has ‘robust plans’ to mitigate any disruption caused by hundreds of staff going on strike from next week.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union confirmed last week that 432 HMRC workers will strike for 18 days in May and June amid a campaign over wages, pensions, job security and layoff conditions.
The union said members who work as customer service advisers in Glasgow and Newcastle-upon-Tyne will leave for three days on May 10.
They also run off between May 15 and 19, May 22 and 26, and May 29 and 31, and between June 1 and 2.
More than 400 HMRC staff will walk away for 18 days from next week in May and June
It comes just days after 133,000 officials in 132 government departments walked out amid claims of bullying and an “ideological war” against staff.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘Our hard-working members in HMRC are tired of being treated with disdain by a government that doesn’t seem to care about its own staff.
“If they did, the ministers could stop this strike… by making a fair offer to help our members through the cost-of-living crisis and beyond.”
The union predicts the strikes will cause ‘significant difficulties’ for UK businesses, affecting HMRC’s helpline, student loan unit, PAYE registrations and employment benefits.
Sanctions, spending and benefits, as well as one of the government’s key small business policies, the employment benefit, are also expected to be impacted.
A spokesman for the HMRC told This Is Money: ‘Discussions between the HMRC and the civil service unions are continuing.
“We have robust plans to ensure we continue to provide critical services to our customers during any industrial action.”
HMRC did not respond to a request for clarification on which ‘critical services’ it was prioritizing and whether its call centers would be affected.
It can be another frustrating wait for many small businesses, who have experienced delays as HMRC takes months to secure base tax data.
It’s because HMRC saw huge cuts in its customer service workforce, from 25,000 to 19,500 in five years.
In February, the Institute of Chartered Accounts of England and Wales said understaffing at the tax office was causing delays and hampering economic activity.
One accountant called the service “diabolical”, though HMRC said it responded to most correspondence within 15 days.
Michael Izza, chief executive at the ICAEW, said: ‘We are calling on ministers to set up an emergency task force to identify steps to clear HMRC’s backlog and improve service standards so that it can sustain business growth in the future. supports, not inhibits. and maximizes the tax revenue needed to fund public services.”