UK Passport Employees Go On 5-Week Strike Over Pay

 In a move that has caused concern for UK travelers, employees of the Passport Office have announced they will be going on a 5-week strike over pay. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) confirmed that workers at the Passport Office will take industrial action from Monday, demanding better wages.

The strike will affect both the processing and issuing of UK passports, as well as services related to travel documents and visas. This could have a significant impact on anyone planning to travel in the coming weeks, especially those who need to obtain or renew their passports.

The PCS has stated that the strike is a result of the government's failure to address the issue of low pay, and that the workers have been left with no other choice but to take action. The union is calling for a pay rise of at least 10%, as well as the introduction of a living wage for all workers.

The Passport Office has responded by saying that it is disappointed with the decision to strike and that it is doing everything it can to minimize disruption to its services. The office has stated that it will prioritize the processing of urgent and emergency applications during the strike period.

The strike comes at a time when the UK government is already facing criticism for its handling of passport applications. Earlier this year, the government was accused of allowing a backlog of over 400,000 passport applications to build up, causing significant delays for applicants.

Many have criticized the government's response to the strike, arguing that the low pay of passport workers is indicative of wider issues with pay and conditions for public sector workers. The PCS has stated that it is committed to continuing its campaign for fair pay for all workers.

As the strike goes ahead, it remains to be seen how much disruption it will cause for UK travelers. However, it is clear that the issue of fair pay for passport workers is one that will continue to be debated in the coming weeks and months.