Tax workers take action over jobs

Tax workers launched a fresh wave of industrial action today in a long-running dispute over job losses and privatisation.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union started weeks of action short of a strike, which will include a work to rule, in protest at Revenue and Customs job cuts.

The union is also planning strike action in September as part of a campaign against cuts and plans to privatise parts of the service.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said: "While millionaires in the cabinet wring their hands about the morality of tax avoidance, they are ploughing ahead with plans to cut thousands more jobs from the department responsible for doing something about it.

"The case for investment in our public services as an alternative to austerity could not be more obvious than it is in HMRC."

A HM Revenue & Customs spokesman said: "We are disappointed with the decision to take action short of a strike, and expect this to cause minimal disruption to our customers."

PA