PUBLIC services in Scotland are facing disruption tomorrow because of a strike by 30,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union over pension reforms.
Pickets will be out at jobcentres, courts, passport and immigration offices, driving test centres, the Scottish Parliament and Government buildings, the Faslane naval base and museums and galleries, including popular tourist destinations such as Edinburgh Castle.
Schools in Scotland will not be affected -- many have already closed for the holidays and others are due to finish -- but more than 3000 schools in England are to close as teachers there join the walk-out.
Across the UK 750,000 PCS members are expected to strike despite a personal plea from David Cameron, who condemned it as “wrong”.
The Prime Minister said the reforms that sparked the action were right for the taxpayer and “right for you”.
In a speech to civil servants, the Tory leader insisted the changes, which include raising the retirement age for most public sector staff, were the only way to keep pensions affordable.
Last night Labour leader Ed Miliband called on the unions not to give the Coalition the “fight for which it seems to be spoiling”.
But Lynn Henderson, Scottish Secretary of the PCS, said: “We are seeing increasingly desperate attempts by UK ministers to smear us in the press and misrepresent our position to the public.
“Our fight is with a Coalition Government that has no interest in looking after its workforce and no interest in negotiating a fair settlement.”
STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith added: “No-one wants to strike, but unless the Government makes meaningful concessions, further action from unions is inevitable and Scotland could be affected as severely as anywhere else.”
Anyone due to sit a driving test has been urged to turn up. The Driving Standards Agency’s chief executive Rosemary Thew said: “Not all examiners are members of the PCS and even if they are, we cannot be sure that they will not turn up for work.
“Theory tests are not affected and will take place as planned.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Court Service said they were working closely with the Crown Office to minimise the impact of any industrial action.
The main political parties said MSPs would be turning up for work as normal and a spokesman for the Holyrood authorities said they were confident all parliamentary business could be supported.
He said there would be no impact on the opening ceremony for the new parliament by the Queen on Friday.
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