Ealing Tax Officers Take Further Strike Action

HMRC workers are protesting over office closure plans

A previous demonstration agains the Ealing tax office closure

Tax Office staff in Ealing Broadway will be taking strike action today over plans to close their office.

PCS members at International House voted decisively for strike action from midday on Thursday 5 December to defend jobs and services.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the government department that assesses and collects the taxes that fund all public infrastructure and benefits. The Public and Commercial Service Union (PCS) represents workers in HMRC.

HMRC plan to close its Ealing office – International House. Nearly 200 staff who work there face redundancy or will have to commute to and from Stratford or Croydon.

Earlier this year members at International House took 5 days of action which secured an extension to the office closure date.

A spokesperson for PCS said: '' Commitments from HMRC which could have allowed our members to continue their careers within HMRC were then reneged upon. We had no other option but to ballot for further action. It makes no sense to close the Ealing office. Our members undertake vital work within HMRC. If good quality jobs are axed in Ealing it will not just impact on the individuals concerned and their families, it will damage the economy locally.''

An HMRC spokesperson has previously said, “It is disappointing that PCS members at our Ealing office have voted to take strike action. HMRC is transforming the way it operates into a more highly-skilled operation offering modern, digital services to create a tax authority fit for the future.

“We want to keep as many people as possible and expect the vast majority of the current workforce will either work in a regional centre or see out their career in an HMRC office.

“While we expect the majority of our people in Ealing will be able to move, everyone will have the opportunity of a 1-2-1 to  discuss their personal circumstances and to establish what support they need. For those people who are unable to move, we will always work with them to find alternative solutions including identifying opportunities at our Inland Pre-Clearance site at Hayes and in other government departments such as Border Force and the Department for Work and Pensions.”

4 December 2019