Universal credit will still run smoothly during strike action
- 20 Jul
The DWP has pledged to ensure that its service will continue to run smoothly during strike action.
PCS Union members in Bolton and Glasgow are going on strike over the management and introduction of universal credit, reports STV News.
The DWP said "only a small minority" of universal credit workers will go on strike, and that "plans are in place to ensure the smooth running of the service and to prioritise payments and priority tasks like housing benefit to ensure a good service to claimants is maintained".
A DWP spokesman said: "Universal credit is already transforming lives with people moving into work faster and staying in work longer. Only a small minority of universal credit workers will be taking part in strike action. The fact is staff are already administering universal credit in almost 50% of Jobcentres, and feedback shows they feel supported and confident in delivering this major welfare reform."
SNP MP Angela Crawley said: "We have known that the roll-out of universal credit has been a shambles and the disastrous figures showing only 3,500 people in Scotland are currently receiving the benefit highlights the abject failure of these Tory plans. Now we can also see how the staff have been suffering at the hands of the DWP. It has been brought to my attention that PCS Union has recently balloted its members at the Bolton and Glasgow sites, with 84% of respondents voting in favour of strike action, with 90% in favour of action short of strike. My constituents tell me that this dispute has been caused by the imposition of new ways of working - changing long-standing working arrangements for staff, made without the agreement of PCS. The rollout of universal credit was years behind schedule and substantially over budget. Problems introducing a computer system to manage the policy saw £40m spent on software completely written off and a further £90m spent on IT that will only be of use for five years. Those working on universal credit have already been suffering from sub-standard IT systems, inadequate training and high levels of stress. The Secretary of State needs to take action and speak to relevant officials. It is unreasonable to impose even greater burdens on hard-pressed staff critical to the delivery of universal credit; and it is in no-one's interest for an industrial dispute to develop."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Related articles
- 03 May
MANY MAY STRUGGLE AS A RESULT OF CHANGES TO THE UNIVERSAL CREDIT SYSTEM
The study envisages the following issues from the move which is expected to save the taxman £1billion a year by 2021:Chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Alison Garnham said:"This cut...
- 13 Mar
CIH SCOTLAND POINTS OUT ISSUES WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW SINGLE PAYMENT ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Following recent warnings from the Scottish Parliament's Social Security Committee about problems with the new Universal Credit system, CIH Scotland has pointed out some issues with the...
- 23 Nov
THE LHA CAP WILL APPLY TO ALL TENANTS THAT RECEIVE UNIVERSAL CREDIT
These details were stated by the government:Lord Freud announced in a ministerial statement that this would "ensure simplicity and a streamlined process". He also said tenants who are moved from...
- 17 Oct
UNIVERSAL CREDIT SET TO EXPAND IN AREAS SERVED BY KIRKINTILLOCH JOBCENTRE
The beneficiaries of this would have to live within one of these postcodes: G64 4, G66 1, G66 2, G66 3, G66 4, G66 5, G66 7 and G66 8.This entitlement means working age people in these postcodes...
- 25 Aug
AFTERMATH OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT DELAYS
The labour MP also said "the minimum six-week payment period faced by new Universal Credit claimants led to reliance on emergency food parcels, triggered debt and rent arrears, and caused health...
- 25 May
FIRST ERROR AND FRAUD FINDINGS FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT
The department's findings show that underpayments due to official errors were considerably higher than for the older Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Programme, however, the rate of overpayments was...
- 09 Sep
Universal credit targets defended by Iain Duncan Smith
When asked about the effectiveness of the roll-out of universal credit Mr Duncan Smith said: “Universal credit is now available in more than half of jobcentres across Great Britain and will be...
- 18 Aug
Scottish carers are worse off due to universal credit
Child Poverty Action Group has sent a report to Scottish and UK ministers urging them to amend the universal credit regime to pay closer heed to Scotland’s systems and use devolved power to protect...
- 13 Aug
Universal Credit claimants rise to almost 90,000
Figures by the Department for Work and Pensions have found that 89,357 people were claiming universal credit by 9th July which was a rise of 18% compared to 75,426 on 11th June, reports Inside...
- 13 Aug
Scottish government to revamp universal credit
The Scottish Government has decided it wants to give claimants the choice of having their payments made twice a month rather than just once a month on universal credit, reports Scottish Housing...
How to fund Housing Support and Social Care Services "Alot of information in a short time, good for me because I travelled a long way. So I feel the journey was worthwhile." C.T - People First Dorset
