“Our members are taking this action as a last resort. Angela Rayner’s department has shown a blatant disregard for our members and the communities they serve.”
Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary
By the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Following a second successful ballot on 8 April, all 16 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government offices now have mandates for industrial action.
Members in the remaining Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) offices voted 70% in favour of strike action and 86% in favour of action short of a strike, on a turnout of 56%.
The branch has also announced that, following unsuccessful and largely disappointing talks with management, members within MHCLG will take industrial action from Tuesday 22 April for up to nine days. This action is in response to the department’s programme of office closures, office attendance, and recruitment location policies.
Members working in the Newcastle office, which is under imminent threat of closure, will lead the strike with nine days of industrial action on 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 April, and 1 and 2 May. Other offices threatened with closure — in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Truro, and Warrington — will strike for four days starting on 22 April.
PCS remains committed to negotiating with MHCLG and is seeking the following commitments:
- A commitment to maintain an office location in Newcastle for at least the next 18 months while negotiations continue.
- A commitment to halt all planned office closures until meaningful engagement and consultation take place on the wider office location strategy.
- A written commitment to timely and substantive negotiations on recruitment location policies, with the aim of reaching a formal collective agreement.
- A commitment to negotiate office attendance policies and for contractual incorporation, based on principles that prioritise staff flexibility and choice wherever possible.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote stated: “Our members are taking this action as a last resort. Angela Rayner’s department has shown a blatant disregard for our members and the communities they serve. We will not stand by while offices are closed, and our members are forced into rigid attendance policies. We demand meaningful negotiations and real commitments to address these issues.”
A PCS representative from the Newcastle office added: “The closure of our office will have a significant impact on our lives and the local community. We need assurances that our concerns will be addressed and that MHCLG maintains an office presence in Newcastle.”
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- This was originally published on the PCS website on 10 April 2025.
