Workers strike over jobs fear
Protesters gathered in Welshpool today to strike against plans to close the town's tax office and JobCentre. Protesters gathered in Welshpool today to strike against plans to close the town's tax office and JobCentre. Ministry of Defence and Welsh Assembly staff who work in the Severn Street base could also be affected. A total of 35 jobs would go from the tax office, coupled with about 20 further positions in the other three departments. About a dozen members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) joined forces outside the premises today. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A total of 35 jobs would go from the tax office, coupled with about 20 further positions in the other three departments.
About a dozen members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) joined forces outside the premises today.
David Morris, PCS representative for Welshpool, said: "There are plans to close the office sometime after April next year.
"They have told us we definitely have a job until then, but they have not set a date nor talked about redundancy.
"They would probably offer us a job in another office, but the nearest office is Wrexham because Oswestry is also going to shut.
"When they announced it back in November there were 47 people working here and we are down to 35 now.
"If we go it might not be viable to keep the building open as 20 per cent of it is empty.
"In big towns they are closing some offices and moving staff to others. Here, there's nowhere to go."
Oswestry tax office, in Middleton Road, remained open today, although staff confirmed a number of workers were on strike. Members of the PCS Union, in Oswestry, are expected to picket at the office later today.