TV licence workers prepare for Christmas and new year strikes

Hundreds of TV licensing workers are to stage fresh strikes in the run-up to Christmas and in the new year, as part of a long-running dispute over pay.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said its members employed by Capita will take industrial action next week and from 3 to 9 January, after they rejected a 2.6 per cent pay offer.

The workers, who process licence applications, have held four days of action since October, at centres including Glasgow.

CWU national officer Andy Furey said: “Capita is the classic Scrooge – raking in profits, paying out massive salaries and bonuses to senior executives, and then treading its low-paid staff into the floor.

“This company makes £1 million profit every day and has just been awarded an eight-year extension to its BBC contract, so it can afford a decent pay rise for staff.”