January 2020, a New Year, a new round of weekly strikes in our Campaign to Save Ealing Tax office

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What a journey it has been !
By the end of this week (31st Jan 2020)  we will have been on strike for 10 days since early 2019. None of our action would  have been possible without the unshakable solidarity and bravery of the Ealing Strikers who chose to stand up to the vicious office closures imposed on them .
We want to save our jobs and we are worth it.  In the Debt management teams some of the poorest paid in the Civil Service barely earning above minimal wage, 68% of the workers face redundancy and unemployment. This is replicated across all the teams in International House marking the end of the road for many of us including myself.
As a carer I cannot regularly make the 4 hour round trip to our new office in Stratford – many members like me have overwhelming personal circumstances, disabilities or simply a desire to have a daily work – life balance.
We have been betrayed by our employer.
In 2005 we had 596 offices up and down the UK, less than 2% will remain at the end of the HMRC Building our Future office closure program. As shocking as the personal betrayal of loyal workers, is the fact that HMRC is ignoring the tax risk of leaving North West London. Fraudsters and tax evaders must be rubbing their hands in glee as we exit the area. Within a few months, 4000 years of tax expertise and training will be thrown away when we lose our jobs.
Whatever the outcome of action, Ealing PCS members can feel very proud that we made a stand. We beat a union busting 50% ballot threshold twice and our picket lines and rallies are legendary. Spirits are high as we enter our 3 days of action. We remain strong in our dispute despite the clock ticking down on the closure of International House Ealing.
Please support our fight by spreading the word, organising bucket collections to support the strikers, by following us on social media #saveealingtaxoffice and inviting us to speak at your AGM’s .
Thank-you
Lydia Ndoinjeh PCS R&C London North Branch Chair