Staff at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) base in East Kilbride have begun strike action over a planned restructure and a lack of guarantees against compulsory redundancies. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at Abercrombie House in Hairmyres staged the first of five planned strike days on Thursday, protesting against the FCDO 2030 project, which could reduce the department's workforce by 25% nationwide.
MSP Joins Picket Line
Local MSP Collette Stevenson joined workers on the picket line, criticising cuts to the international aid budget and expressing solidarity with the strikers. She has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament supporting the “highly skilled, committed public servants.”
Further strike action is scheduled for today, tomorrow, and next Wednesday and Thursday. The FCDO 2030 project is expected to result in around 2,000 job losses across the UK, according to the union.
Union Demands and Vote
PCS members voted last month to strike in response to restructuring plans, a failure to meaningfully consult with unions, and the refusal to guarantee no compulsory redundancies. The union stated, “We deserve better.”
The Westminster international development select committee described the project as a “programme of structural and staffing changes which anticipates a reduction of staffing of between 15 and 25 per cent.”
MSP's Statement and Motion
Ms Stevenson said: “Labour’s decision to slash the international aid budget has created huge uncertainty for staff who dedicate their careers to supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable communities while delivering vital work on behalf of the UK. East Kilbride has a long and proud association with the FCDO. These are highly skilled, committed public servants whose jobs make a significant contribution to our local economy. They deserve security, not uncertainty.”
Her motion at Holyrood “notes with concern” the strike action and criticises FCDO management for failing to provide assurances against compulsory redundancies. It also expresses disappointment that proposals to avoid compulsory redundancies have been rejected and that transparency data on staffing levels has not been shared.
The motion, supported by colleagues including Clare Haughey, commends the workers and urges FCDO management to return to meaningful negotiations and provide a firm guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
FCDO Response
An FCDO spokesperson said: “FCDO 2030 is a strategic transformation that will redefine how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office delivers for the UK in an increasingly complex and volatile world. We respect the right of PCS members to take strike action and remain open to further talks. Consultation has been ongoing since the autumn and contingency plans are in place across affected business areas to minimise disruption.”
