PCS to launch industrial action if the Government call workers to the office

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is ready to launch action against the Government. They are saying that the Government must not order peoples return to the office until covid rates drop.

Last September, the Government asked for people to slowly start to return to the office. A retraction to this advice was issued following a rise in cases. As the Government begin to again review its guidance in working from home, Mr Serwotka urges them to look at last Septembers call, and not make the same mistake twice.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka is concerned the Government is again preparing to push workers back into the office. He says that September was “a disaster” which led to resentment in managers as well as staff.

Mr Serwotka says civil servants need to be given a variety of options. Workers are to “be allowed to make the best decision for them”.

Civil Servant safety is the Governments top priority. They are using technology to help civil workers return to work. The Government is learning and adapting from last year to help workers work effectively, and productively, remotely.

Is the Government making it illegal to demand office work

A recent report in The Daily Mail suggests that the Governments post-pandemic plan is to give office staff a default right to work from home.

If the law moves through legislation, employees can work from home unless employees prove it is essential to be in the office. The potential is facing a lot of criticism from in town businesses who are desperate for normality.

A Whitehall Source says that the government are looking to introduce more flexible working hours. The new working regulations will see parents able to start later in order to be able to drop their children off at childcare. In the case of office employees, each employee will be able to work from home unless the office can prove it is essential for them to be in the office.

A leaked presentation by the Cabinet Office reveal minister are already under instructions to not encourage workers back at their desks. The move to permanently ‘working from home’ is being met with hostility from Conservative MP’s. Labour MP Angela Raynor, however, is happy about the change. Emerging from this crisis means we can not go back to “one sided flexibility” that allows employers to dictate terms.

---