Thousands of jobs in the offices of the Department for Work and Pensions in the UK are at risk, a union has warned.
The DWP has confirmed plans to close some offices and relocate staff to others to save money.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said more than 1,000 jobs are at risk if 13 sites are set to close by June 2023.
It added that thousands more officers could be at risk if 29 other locations are closed and relocated.
DWP Minister David Rutley told MPs the department had “too much assets” and the move would help generate savings and modernize services.
- No progress in moving officials from London – report
- Strike “possible” over longer job center opening
About 12,000 officers are being asked to relocate to another DWP office in “close proximity,” he added.
Another 1,300 staff will not be able to transfer to another office – but Mr Rutley said they will be offered retraining for a different role in the DWP or another government department.
According to the PCS, the offices to be closed include one in Stoke on Trent where 213 employees work, one location in Kirkcaldy with 101 employees, one in Peterborough with 100 and one in exeter where 119 posts are based.
The union said those earmarked for closure and relocation include one site WashingtonTyne and Wear, where 945 jobs are based, an office in Stockton-on-Tees with 383 articles, one in wallall with 296, as well as two pages each in London and Glasgow.
Mr Rutley said the department has no plans to reduce overall staff numbers and the delivery of personal services in employment offices will not be affected.
But PCS Secretary General Mark Serwotka accused the government of “abandoning” staff and leaving them “to their own devices”.
“The government was quick to gossip to officials early in the pandemic; they scrap them even faster after declaring the pandemic over,” he added.
Jonathan Ashworth, Labor Secretary of State for Shadow Work and Pensions, condemned the move, adding that he had exposed ministers’ ambitions to help poorer areas as part of their “leveling” agenda as “completely hollow”.
“Ministers today are cutting quality public sector jobs from communities that need them amid a devastating cost of living crisis,” he added.
Mr Rutley defended the closures, saying the DWP currently has office space for 158,000 staff but a maximum projected headcount of 97,500.
Add Comment