Public and Commercial Services Union
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Contact centre action postponed

Members in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have postponed their planned industrial action after gaining a significant agreement that protects their working conditions.

10,000 members in Revenue and Customs were set to take action at 20 sites across the UK.

Staff had been angered by draconian working conditions such as excessive individual monitoring, tightening of leave allowances and threats to flexible working hours agreements.

The agreement, which was reached following members determination to stand together and months of negotiations, covers the majority of their demands.
 
There have been key gains such as a suspension of individual monitoring for 4 weeks while negotiations progress and staff should no longer be pressured into terminating calls before the caller’s query is adequately dealt with.
 
Leave allowances have been increased to allow everyone who wants to take two weeks leave over the summer months to be able to do so. Flexible working hours have also been protected in the agreement.
 
John Coote PCS negotiations officer said: “Members who have fought together on this issue will be delighted that action can be avoided, for the time being at least, now that we have reached an agreement with management that deals with their demands.
 
"We are determined to make progress on negotiations in the coming weeks but know that members will be ready to stand united once again if a satisfactory outcome to talks is not reached.”

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