The Department for Work and Pensions is to go on a two day Strike.

I wrote the following post on the 26th of this month:

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Strike?

Oh dear, things are just going from bad to worse for poor old Gordon Brown. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have voted in favour of strike action in response to the governments 3 year pay deal. The DWP is the largest department in government employing some 80,000 workers. The threat of a strike that will affect Jobcentres, pension payments and child support came after 62% of those balloted voted in favour of industrial action.

Is this the reason why Gordon repeated his plans at the CBI briefing this morning not to: "take risks and have no irresponsible relaxation of pay discipline." Did he know this was coming? I think we can guess that he did. The general secretary of Public and Commercial Services Union Mark Serwotka said: "It is completely unacceptable that the department should seek to impose pay cuts in real terms on hard-working staff who have borne the brunt of massive job cuts. "The anger of staff is illustrated by this strong vote in favour of strike action over an offer that will see the lowest paid receive only 24p above the minimum wage if it is imposed."

Is that winter of discontent still on the forecast?

Now the DWP is to carry out a two day strike which will be held next week on Thursday 6 December and Friday 7 December. The Strike is to be followed by an overtime ban.