Staff members from the charity regulators for England, Wales and Scotland have voted to strike through the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).
Dozens of government departments and public agencies are set to take part in the largest civil service strike in years on 1 February over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.
Some 135 PCS members that work at the Charity Commission voted in a recent ballot, with 131 voting for industrial action (97%).
PCS are calling for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts in redundancy terms for its members.
‘Fed up and angry’
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our hard-working members at the Charity Commission are fed up and angry with the way they're being treated by a government that takes them for granted. They deserve better. The government can resolve this dispute today if it puts more money on the table.”
Nick Baker, chief operating officer at the Charity Commission, said: “As the public and charities would expect, we are making plans to keep essential services running and minimise any potential disruption.”
Staff at the Office for the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has also balloted for strike action. A total of 16 people were entitled to vote in the ballot and 12 did, with nine voting for strike action.
According to the OSCR website, there are approximately 50 staff working in its Dundee office, but most of these are not PCS members.
Government: Union bosses should call off damaging strikes
Staff at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, which oversees civil society, will also strike on 1 February, with 90% of 189 PCS members that returned ballots voting for industrial action.
A government spokesperson told Civil Society News: "The government is doing all it can to mitigate the impact of strikes, but union bosses should be reasonable, stay around the negotiating table and call off damaging strikes.
“Pay must be affordable and fair, which is why we accepted the recommendations from the independent pay review bodies to pay our valued public servants more. Inflation-matching pay increases for all public sector workers would cost everyone more long-term - worsening debt, fuelling inflation, and costing every household an extra £1000.”
Charities vote to strike
Workers at the exempt charity the British Museum has also voted to strike, with over four-fifths voting for industrial action.
Some 77 PCS members that work at the British Museum voted in the ballot, with 66 voting yes and 11 no.
A British Museum spokesperson said: “This industrial action is part of a nationwide dispute across the public sector and focuses on matters that are common across the sector and outside the control of the museum.”
The National Library of Wales is another charity that has voted in favour of industrial action, with 30 participating in the vote and 27 voting yes.
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