Scottish Government staff to vote on potential strike action over home working

Staff at the Scottish Government and four of its agencies are being balloted on potential strike action in a row over a mandatory level of office working.

The Government has mandated that staff should work from one of their offices 40% of the time, which the PCS union – which represents civil servants – said is “unacceptable”.

The union is calling on the Government to scrap the plan, with a ballot on potential industrial action opening on Monday and lasting until December 14.

As well as core Scottish Government civil servants, staff at Social Security Scotland, Community Justice Scotland, Transport Scotland and Disclosure Scotland are also part of the ballot.

Ruby Gibson, the union’s national officer for Scotland, said the Government has “provided no convincing evidence” for its 40% mandate.

She added: “Instead, the Permanent Secretary and employers have chosen to impose an arbitrary target and threaten disciplinary action against workers who do not comply.

“This is an unacceptable way to treat the people who helped keep Scotland’s public services running through the Covid-19 pandemic and have continued to deliver vital services in challenging circumstances ever since.

“The pandemic demonstrated what civil servants and their employers already knew: that public services can be delivered effectively through flexible and hybrid working.

“It opened up opportunities for a better work-life balance, improved productivity and a more inclusive workforce, including for disabled workers, carers and those living in rural and remote communities.

“Rather than building on those gains, the Scottish Government is determined to turn the clock back.

“It is replacing trust with surveillance, flexibility with rigid targets and constructive employment relations with the threat of disciplinary action.”

Ms Gibson added that the union does not oppose office working.

“This ballot is about protecting the future of hybrid working across the Scottish Government and its agencies and making clear that PCS members will not simply accept decisions that undermine their working lives,” she said.

“PCS is ready to negotiate a sensible, evidence-based solution, but we will not stand by while hard-won protections are stripped away.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The introduction of the updated hybrid policy follows a period of formal consultation with unions.

“Existing support arrangements remain in place and managers have been given clear guidance in how to use them.

“We will continue to engage with unions on this issue to better understand the issues of concern.”