Staff at the Department for Education (DfE) are to be balloted for industrial action following a dispute over job losses and office relocation plans. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of strikes.
The union confirmed the potential action is a protest against proposals to close six offices across England. PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are being presented with impossible choices: face dramatically longer commutes, relocate their lives and families, or risk being told to leave.”
Heathcote added: “These closures will have a devastating impact on hundreds of dedicated public servants who have spent years delivering vital services for children, families and schools across the country. The department’s refusal to consider sensible flexible working arrangements that could save jobs is deeply disappointing.”
The news comes days after Reality TV star Gemma Collins appeared in a DfE social media video alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. In the 18-second clip, Collins enters the DfE building and makes a peace sign to the camera before walking through the office saying: “Right, what are we doing to help the children?”
The Education Secretary then appears on film opening a door before inviting Collins in, telling her: “Come in, let’s have a chat.” The DfE captioned the video: “Gemma Collins is in the building and she’s got questions.” Former health secretary Wes Streeting retweeted the clip, saying: “When the GC met BP”, adding a fire emoji.
The TV personality left school with minimal qualifications and spoke to Ms Phillipson about how to ensure children in a similar position are not left behind, according to the DfE. Collins, 45, was not paid for the meeting or for the making of the posts. More material from the meeting is expected to be posted across DfE social channels in the coming days.
