Land Registry staff to strike next month

Staff at the Land Registry and its Scottish equivalent are among Government departments and civil servants who will take part in a civil service strike next month.

The Public and Commercial Services Union’s (PCS) national executive committee has agreed to call a one-day strike on 1 February.

It comes after 126 departments, including the Land Registry and The Registers of Scotland, passed the 50% turnout threshold and backed strike action at the end of last year concerning pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms.

The strike is being described as “the largest civil service strike for years and signals a significant escalation of industrial action after a month of strikes over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.”

Strike action at the Land Registry and Registers of Scotland could add to the existing backlog of sales and property registrations currently going through the system, further delaying transactions for estate agents.

A statement from the PCS said: “As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, with inflation at nearly 11%, members are saying they’ve had enough of being treated appallingly. 

“Our campaign is for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts in redundancy terms.

“We have carried out sustained action in targeted areas which is building pressure on the employer in the Border Force, RPA, DVSA, DVLA, National Highways and DWP.

“The action will be coordinated with other unions taking action, as well as the launch by the TUC of a campaign over pay and jobs, which will include events in several UK cities.”

Commenting on the strike action, David Alexander, chief executive of DJ Alexander Scotland, said: “While it is understandable that members of the PCS union feel the need to take action to secure higher wages it is inevitable that this will impact on the speed at which property transactions can be carried out. While this is just a one day strike it is inevitable there will be more if their pay demands are not met.

“Homebuyers and sellers must be made aware by their selling agent of any potential delays in the buying and selling process. This may frustrate many who are keen to buy and sell at the moment although a positive side is that the industrial action is taking place at a traditionally quiet time for the market.

“Unfortunately, this is happening at a time when the property market is already facing many challenges with many homeowners trying to accelerate the buying and selling process due to uncertainty over mortgage offers. 

“While it obviously depends on the level of industrial action and the number of strike days undertaken this will undoubtedly cause delays in the buying and selling process. I would hope that the impact will not be too great and that it can be resolved quickly to allow a return to normal service as soon as possible.”

The Land Registry said in a statement: "HM Land Registry notes the decision of the PCS national executive committee to call for industrial action. PCS is required to formally write to employers to give them 14 days’ notice of strike action - to date, we have not yet received this.

“We have successfully mitigated the impact of industrial action on our services in the past and have robust contingency plans in place.

"We will prioritise time-critical services required for property transactions to continue, including pre-completion searches, the majority of which are automated, and urgent applications that have been expedited.

"We will closely monitor any impacts and respond as necessary to deliver the essential services required to support the property market.”