Safety staff take industrial action over relocation

Members of the PCS civil service union began a campaign of industrial action this month over the closure of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) head office in London.

So far only 10 staff out of more than 300 have expressed an interest in relocating to Bootle in Merseyside. HSE’s “business case” for the move assumed it would be more like 130.

Given this loss of skills and expertise, and threats of disciplinary action if staff don’t make alternative arrangements, 73% of those voting in a ballot supported action short of a strike.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary said: “Staff in London HQ play a vital and active role in HSE’s efforts to keep people healthy and safe at work. Their technical knowledge of health and safety and understanding of the political environment, magnified by years of experience in building relationships with other government departments and stakeholders, makes HSE the modern, world recognised and relevant organisation that it is today.”

The action comes against a background of job cuts that has seen staff numbers fall below 3,000 along with year-on-year reductions in the number of inspections and prosecutions.

Serwotka added: “Already, nearly 100 staff and four senior managers, including both deputy chief executives, have left. We believe the risks to the organisation of losing this vital expertise are now too great, which is why we are calling on the HSE and the government to think again.”