HMRC staff strike 'to support sacked union reps'

Workers at the HM Revenue and Customs office in Newcastle will begin eight weeks of strike action on Monday.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said its members were supporting three colleagues whom they claimed had been sacked unfairly.

The union said a picket line would be put in place outside the HMRC offices in Benton Park.

An HMRC spokesperson said: "We have robust plans in place to ensure we continue delivering critical services for our customers during any industrial action."

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "An injury to one is an injury to all, and we're not going to sit back and allow this injustice to go unchallenged.

"We believe our reps were victimised for their trade union activities after they organised a previous strike.

"They never wanted to be in this situation - they just want to be back at work, doing their jobs.

"We demand HMRC gives them their jobs back and ends the victimisation of reps in the workplace."

Those taking part in the industrial action work within the HMRC's customer services group.

They work on the employer helpline and one for the construction industry.

The HMRC spokesperson said that while phone lines and webchat would still be open during the strike, customers may experience longer waiting times.

They said the HMRC did not comment on staff employment matters.

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