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Outsourced cleaners strike at Foreign Office in East Kilbride
Members of the PCS union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in Glasgow, April 3, 2023

STRIKING cleaning and catering workers at the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) in East Kilbride have announced a further wave of action as long-running pay and conditions dispute continues.

Demanding improvements to pay, sick pay and annual leave entitlements, the workers — employed by outsourcing giant OCS and represented by the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) — have already walked out this week, challenging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to intervene and make good on Labour’s promise to deliver “the biggest wave of in-sourcing of public services for a generation.”

Ahead of three further strike days next week, PCS has now announced an additional eight across October to bring OCS back to the negotiating table.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “We will continue to support our OCS members working at Abercrombie House until an acceptable resolution is offered.

“Despite our efforts, OCS has not responded to our suggestion of further negotiations in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

“We’re clear: there will be no resolution to the dispute while OCS continues to refuse to engage with PCS.”

The FCDO and OCS were contacted for comment.

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