Civil servants have announced plans to strike in protest against being required to return to the office for two days a week. This action, led by members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), also includes demands for better pay and improved working conditions.
Over 200 PHSO staff, responsible for investigating complaints about government departments, public organisations, and the NHS in England, are participating in the industrial action. According to the PCS union, the strike reflects dissatisfaction over low wages and unnecessary commuting costs, which could be avoided by allowing remote work.
An overwhelming 81 percent of union members voted in favor of the strike, with a turnout of 67 percent.
Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary, emphasized the burden of commuting costs for low-paid workers. She stated: “Low and stagnating pay is a real issue for our members at the PHSO. Commuting to the office adds unnecessary costs when working from home is equally effective, if not more so. Managers can resolve this dispute by engaging in meaningful discussions and showing flexibility. If they refuse, strike action will be inevitable.”
The PHSO workers join a growing number of public sector employees pushing back against what unions describe as “arbitrary” government directives to return to office work.
- Scotland Yard: Next month, 300 administrative staff responsible for logging crimes and vetting officers are expected to strike for the first time in history, citing the demand to work from home.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS): Employees have voted to strike after being mandated to spend at least 40 percent of their working week in the office.
- Land Registry: Workers are also planning industrial action over a three-day-a-week office requirement.
Additionally, the PCS union is campaigning for a four-day work week at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
In an unrelated dispute, security guards at three major London museums – the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum – have announced a month-long strike set for February.
Around 100 members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union are calling for pay raises, better sick pay, and parity with museum staff who are directly employed. They are also seeking additional annual leave and bonuses.
Petros Elia, UVW General Secretary, described the strike as “historic,” adding:
“This unprecedented month-long strike action demonstrates the unwavering determination of security guards at these institutions to achieve dignity and equality at work.”
Broader Implications
The wave of industrial actions reflects a growing dissatisfaction among workers over pay, working conditions, and the post-pandemic shift back to office mandates. Since the COVID-19 pandemic normalized remote work, many employees have resisted returning to traditional office settings, highlighting the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of working from home.
The government and employers now face mounting pressure to address these concerns, balancing the needs of workers with operational demands to prevent further disruptions.
This trend underscores a larger, global debate about the future of work and the expectations of flexibility and fairness in the modern workforce.
