WICK GOT WORK!
We are absolutely ecstatic to report the news that HMRC at 2pm today announced to Campaigning PCS Members in the Wick Tax Office that in the face of massive political pressure, the decision has been taken to retain an office presence in Wick until at least 2014.
The Wick Wants Work campaign has, over the last seven months, worked hard to build the profile and the political contact that led to this Political pressure being applied, and our thanks are due to everyone who has shared the message and supported the Campaign.
Formed and directed by Members of the Public & Commercial Services Union, the Campaign has benefitted hugely from the support of the public in Caithness and across Scotland, and of PCS Reps, Members and other Trade Unionists, in particular the General Council and Staff of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.
Wick is a unique place, with Unique characteristics. A wee town in the far North of Scotland, it represented a Unique challenge in terms of the complete lack of redeployment opportunities for staff should the Office have Closed, and the Geographical Area covered by the office (an area the size of Belgium) added weight to the message that the retention of HMRC Compliance Work was vital.
Welcoming the decision today, the Executive Committe of PCS for members in Revenue & Customs offered particular congratulations and Thanks to Allan Tait, local PCS Office Secretary in Wick, to Lewis Bevan,Lorna Merry and Simon Boniface as the negotiating team, and to the members of the Executive that have been active in supporting the Campaign.
Whilst very happy with the reprieve provided by today's announcement, Campaigners are clear that the Campaign is not over, and that the fight to retain these jobs, and to bring more work to Caithness, both in HMRC and in other areas of both the Public and the Private Sectors will continue.
Thanks again to everyone for your support thus far, and for the support that you will give in the future. Today's news once again demonstrates that when the political will is there, no fate, no matter how bleakly it is presented, is absolute. The about turn by HMRC on Wick is a win for the Campaign, and is a win for campaigners against closures across the UK.
Wick Got Work because of you. Thank you.
Comrades well done in gaining this victory also a boost to all of us to see good people winning through against this awful bunch of public school boys
ReplyDeleteThanks especially to Hamish Drummond from the PCS union for all the work he carried out for the campaign.
ReplyDeleteA battle won but we must keep up the pressure to ensure the War is also won.