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Public sector workers in Manchester have joined forces to take industrial action over proposed changes to their pensions.
Members of the PCS Union from the Highways Agency, Ofsted and Department for Education are organising a picket line at Piccadilly Gate, Store Street on May 10 from 8.30am until 10am.
Highways Agency members are also pursuing separate action alongside the Department for Transport Branches. Both groups face a number of issues including privatisation, outsourcing, staff cuts and wage disputes.
"PCS has made a decision to link all of the issues above together into one 'dispute' rather than trying to fight on each issue separately and in each separate part of the department," read a PCU statement.
"We believe that it would be a recipe for disaster if we were to leave each Agency to tackle issues on their own. PCS are looking for common departmental wide solutions to the common threats that we all face.
"We have asked the department over many months, and in many sets of talks, for guarantees on employment, on pay, and for guarantees that staff will not be stripped of their civil service status, and we have asked for guarantees on protection of our current terms and conditions and on the structure of the staff handbook.
"Unfortunately the department has refused to give any such guarantees. Their refusal has left us no choice but to ballot you.
"The ballot will have two questions; one asking if you would be prepared to take action short of industrial action (e.g. over time ban, work to rule) and the other whether you will take strike action.
"We urge you to vote 'YES' to both questions."
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