HMRC braced for possible strikes over job cuts

Small businesses operating in the UK are likely to be among those affected by planned industrial action at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). A recent ballot of Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) members has shown that strikes at HMRC are increasingly likely as the union's concerns about planned job cuts and privatisation remain. The union's latest ballot saw a turnout of 33.3 per cent, of which 52.8 per cent were in favour of striking and 77.2 per cent voted for other forms of industrial action. It comes as the PCS stands firm against plans to axe a further 10,000 jobs from HMRC by 2014-15. The department, which was launched in 2005, has since seen 30,000 job cut. Mark Serwotka, the union's General Secretary, said it makes "absolutely no economic sense" to cut more staff from the department responsible for collecting taxes if the government is serous about reducing the UK's budget deficit. "The government should be investing to improve services, tackle the tax dodgers and get our economy back on its feet," he explained. "At the same time as cutting jobs and closing offices, we have real concerns about creeping privatisation in HMRC, with public money being handed to companies to make a profit."