Civil servants rally across England to fight cuts

Civil servants' union PCS members will mount their protests outside government offices in London and the north over plans to tear up agreements on working conditions.

PCS, which represents 290,000 public-sector workers, said parents and carers would be hardest hit by a government-ordered review of all terms and conditions.

The protest is also over the public-sector pay freeze, cuts to pensions and tens of thousands of civil service job cuts. Official figures show 60,000 civil service jobs cuts since the election.

It said a December PCS executive meeting will consider a timetable for a fresh industrial action ballot early in 2013.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's call for companies to introduce more flexible working was "pure hypocrisy" because the government is planning to reduce it, PCS said.

Basic conditions such as working hours and holidays are being reviewed and are expected to be worsened.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka - who will address a rally outside the Cabinet Office in Whitehall at 12.30pm tomorrow - said: "It is pure hypocrisy to tell businesses they should extend flexible working while seeking to cut it back for your own staff.

"After seeing tens of thousands of their colleagues thrown out of work, and having their pay and pensions cut, civil servants are now being forced to fight to defend everything they rely on to manage their working lives."

Details of the review were leaked to the union.

Tomorrow's action includes rallies in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens at 12.30pm, Newcastle's Benton Park View at 12pm, Victoria Gardens in Leeds at 12.30pm and outside Durham's Land Registry office at 12.15pm.