HSE inspectors strike

More than 3,000 Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors and administration staff took their first strike action for 23 years on 29 March, after employers failed to improve a pay offer that would give only 1.5% for the most experienced staff at the top of their pay scales - and would see a real-terms pay cut for many others over the next three years.

HSE members of civil service unions Prospect and PCS voted for industrial action in February. Prospect general secretary Paul Noon said: "Support for this strike reflects the anger of HSE staff at being offered a pay cut in real terms when their workload and the occupational risks to British workers are increasing all the time."

The unions instigated talks with the conciliation service ACAS, but the HSE board had not budged as Work-place Report went to press. Some board members received salary increases of nearly £20,000 this year.

Members have voted to follow up the strike with a work to rule and a refusal to use their own cars for HSE duties. Major incidents and court hearings have been given dispensation from the action.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The decision for staff to strike was not taken lightly. What we are asking for is both affordable and reasonable, and it's time management realised this and sat down with us to reach a negotiated settlement."