Security guards at the House of Commons have decided to put their planned strikes on hold after receiving news that the introduction of an unpopular new shift pattern will be temporarily halted. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which represents over 250 members, had initially scheduled industrial action for October 31, November 1, 6, and 7 in protest of night shifts.
According to the union, management has now reversed their decision and agreed to suspend the implementation of the new roster while engaging in discussions with union representatives. Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of PCS, expressed his satisfaction with this outcome, stating that it is a significant victory for the security guards at the House of Commons. However, he emphasized that this is just the first step and warned that if a satisfactory new roster is not secured, they will not hesitate to announce further strike action.