Contracted workers at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have voted unanimously in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.
They are seeking a minimum pay rate of at least £15 per hour, as well as the same employment terms as their civil service colleagues.
A ballot by the PCS union of cleaning, catering and facilities staff at the FCDO’s offices at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride closed last Friday.
“Members have voted overwhelmingly for action to demand decent pay, terms and conditions,” the union stated.
PCS said it had rejected “an insulting pay offer” by contractor OCS, which would amount to no more than £12 per hour for most workers and that 100% of PCS members voted for industrial action on a turnout of 100%.
The union said OCS has also failed to meet the union’s demands for contractual sick pay from day one, an increase in annual leave to 30 days and enhanced redundancy terms where workers would receive one month’s pay for every year of service.
OCS took over the contract of the outsourced staff last November, when they were transferred across from another outsourced provider.
Although the number of staff involved in the dispute is relatively small, at eleven individuals, any strike action would have a significant impact as anyone brought in to cover the work would need to have security clearance, according to the union. Its members “will now consider the timing and duration of their strike action”.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members have sent a clear message to OCS that they must act now to make an improved offer or face disruptive strike action.”
She added: “This strike action will be a powerful reminder of how fundamental our members are to keeping the FCDO running. The FCDO must now consider insourcing the contract in line with the policy of the new government.’’