Courts fines staff strike over "sell-off to bailiffs"
COURTS fines staff at Bristol Magistrates Court will join colleagues at Exeter and Weston super Mare magistrates courts by going on strike on Thursday, in protest against plans to privatise their work.
The Government wants to sell off the criminal enforcement section of the Ministry of Justice, opening up the collection and administration of fines imposed by the courts to private bailiffs.
-
Bristol Magistrates Court
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced that as well as fears about cuts to pay and working conditions, the walkout will highlight the "threats to this important public service".
The walkout will take place from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday – the first in a rolling programme of planned industrial action.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Bev Anderson of PCS, who represents criminal enforcement staff in Weston Super Mare, said: "There are real concerns that the cost of living soaring means low-paid workers face having their pay and conditions cut.
"Combined with the unaccountability of private bailiffs and threats to personal data, PCS members have no other option but to protest vigorously to ensure the public are made aware."
4 Comments
by BedmoBanjo
Friday, February 01 2013, 12:08PM
“Well selling off the rights to clamp cars was of course a brilliant move, hasn't resulted in shady semi-mafia style "clampers" harrassing and intimidating people. Sure this idea will be just as successful.
Also, bailiffs have no right to entry unless thier court appointed, so, er, these bouncer/bailiff/clamper/mafia sorts would be able to kick in your door legally...that doesn't sound likely to cause violent disorder at all.
Nice work Tories.”
by CrownServant
Thursday, January 31 2013, 1:05PM
“This is a ridiculous contradiction by the government; on one hand they are trying to legislate to clean up the "private bailiff industry" that they acknowledge is rotten to the core. Then on the other hand they are trying to sell Criminal Enforcement to the same providers that they clearly believe are rotten… This blanket policy of attempting to privatise Criminal Justice Services must stop. There could be no justification or social benefit for privatising Criminal Enforcement or the Probation Service and putting profit before the publics interest.”
by Morrissey9
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 3:36PM
“A strike that the public might actually broadly support, a rare event!”
by FredTs
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 2:11PM
“Who cares about justice and privacy, what we need is profit!”