Public and Commercial Services Union
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Strike over plans to move back-office work overseas
The union has opposed the sell-off to French multinational Steria of a range of several government departments' support functions, including human resources and finance, due to be finalised on 1 November and affecting more than 1,200 workers.
The company and the Cabinet Office have confirmed the move will mean some of the work – including sensitive payroll and procurement details – will be offshored.
The union's members affected do not want to be transferred to the private sector and say their work should remain in the UK.
The offshore plan, which formed part of the bidding process, flies in the face of a previous ministerial commitment that existing employment would not go overseas and that contractors would be urged to invest in this country.
Friday's strike will affect offices in Alnwick, Blackpool, Cardiff, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and York.
The privatisation of what is called shared services is being led by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Department for Work and Pensions, and includes other smaller departments and agencies with more expected to join at a later date.
