Staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are expressing deep concerns as the agency prepares to implement potential job cuts at the Lincoln City Hall site. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has revealed that over 80 jobs are at risk, prompting members to initiate strike action from December 1, 2023, until January 2, 2024.
The union’s branch chair, Ian Fisher, characterized the situation as a “new low” for the DWP, criticizing the agency’s lack of empathy toward its staff throughout the process. The announcement of redundancies has come in the wake of ongoing industrial action, which Fisher believes reflects a disregard for the employees’ well-being.
In a letter to affected staff, Rob Clarbour, the DWP’s national services leader, acknowledged the distress and uncertainty caused by the potential job losses. He stated, “I understand that changes like this can cause upset and uncertainty. Please be assured that I, and the Department, remain committed to supporting all impacted colleagues throughout this time.” Despite the DWP’s assurances, the PCS argues that the agency has failed to adequately communicate about the redundancy situation.
The DWP has stated that redeployment of staff is a “first priority,” and a voluntary redundancy scheme is currently in place. However, many employees have expressed their desire to maintain their positions rather than accept redundancy packages. Fisher highlighted that colleagues have consistently prioritized job security over financial compensation, insisting they want to keep their employment.
The union’s concerns are echoed by Fran Heathcote, also from the PCS, who noted that long-serving staff members feel “cast aside with little remorse” despite their years of dedicated service. The feeling of betrayal extends beyond the employees, according to Bradley Wall, secretary of the Lincoln and District Trades Council. He emphasized that closing the Lincoln office would represent a significant loss to the community, stating, “Closing this office would be a betrayal, not just of the staff but of Lincolnshire itself.”
The DWP has justified its actions by stating that the affected workers do not engage with customers face-to-face, indicating that the changes are part of a strategy to consolidate operations into “fewer, larger, more economically viable sites.” This approach has drawn criticism from the PCS, which claims that the DWP’s previous denials regarding redundancies have only served to prolong uncertainty and stress among employees.
As the situation develops, the DWP’s actions and the resulting strike action underscore the tensions between the agency and its workforce. The coming weeks will likely reveal how these redundancies will impact not only the employees but also the community that relies on their services.
