31/03/2015

Windsor Castle Staff Balloted Over Strike Action

Staff at Windsor Castle are being balloted over potential industrial action in a dispute over "unpaid extra duties".

It is understood that workers at the royal residence are expected to perform additional duties such as giving tours and interpreting for visitors, out of "goodwill", with the Royal Collection Trust saying that staff "volunteered" for the additional duties.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has said that "low paid" staff are not receiving additional pay, despite tourists being charged for tours and interpreters.

The union said its 120 Windsor Castle members are being asked if they support industrial strike action, non-strike industrial action – which would see the withdrawal of "goodwill" services" or no action.

A 2014 pay offer was "only narrowly" accepted by staff on the understanding that that would be paid additional allowances for the extra services, "but this has not happened", the union added.

(MH/JP)

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