Civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) public service centre in Lincoln City Hall have shown great courage in standing firm. As one member said, They voted unanimously to strike because of their office’s planned shut down. Workers have vowed to resist the shutdown. This decision affects the full six-floor building, once used mostly by medium sized nonprofits turned welfare offices, its long been a important center and nexus for immigrant services.
This vote to strike reflects how passionately the employees care about what they do. Many are fearful about how the imminent closure might impact their jobs and the essential services they provide to the community. Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the civil service union, described members’ anger. They are not going down without a fight to stop closure.
“Our members have shown they are not prepared to accept the closure of their office without a fight.” – Fran Heathcote
Additionally, the DWP service centre located in Lincoln is incredibly important as it has provided key support services to local residents. If you close it, it will create massive operational upheaval. Employees fear that this move could lead to job losses and a decline in service quality, affecting those who rely on government assistance.
A DWP spokesperson was forced to come out in an effort to quell the outrage. Having made these painful decisions, they underscored their unwavering determination to care for impacted employees throughout this process. The spokesperson stated, “Our absolute priority is supporting all affected staff through this transition, with redeployment opportunities wherever possible.”
Beyond the strike vote itself, this development reflects a deepening mood of unrest among civil service workers over job security and deteriorating workplace conditions. Though the bruising fight is far from over, union representatives are still negotiating with DWP’s new management. Tempers are short, and workers at the state DOT are preparing for a potential strike.
The government is looking to save money and make services more efficient by shutting down the DWP centre. To do that they’ve made a decision that has sparked the livid reaction from workers — from the companies’ own workers who feel underappreciated and scared for their jobs.
