Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joins picket line at Bank of England protest as workers strike over ‘derisory’ pay deal
Leading Labour figure says staff want a ‘decent pay rise’ as they walked out for the first time in 50 years
JOHN McDonnell joined the picket line outside the Bank of England this morning as workers go on strike over a “derisory” pay deal.
The Shadow Chancellor appeared alongside staff as they staged a protest in the City at the start of a three-day walkout – the first for 50 years.
The leading Labour party figure offering his support to and said: "All the workforce want is a decent pay rise.”
It comes as members of the Unite union working in departments including maintenance and security walked out in protest at the imposition of a below-inflation pay rise.
They blame the Bank’s governor Mark Carney for the failure of last-ditch talks on Monday.
And today around 50 strikers mounted a picket line outside its head office wearing masks of Mr Carney’s face and holding up placards and flags reading "Bank of England staff want fair pay".
Unite have accused bosses of imposing a "derisory" below-inflation pay increase for the second year running, saying up to a third of staff will get no rise this year.
Union official Peter Kavanagh said: "The governor of the Bank of England must take responsibility for the fact that his dedicated workforce is having to make their concerns heard from a picket line.
"Unite members from the maintenance, parlours and security departments have been left with no choice but to take industrial action because they are facing another year of having to endure a pay cut imposed upon them.
"Mark Carney should come to the picket lines outside this iconic British bank today and explain why hardworking men and women deserve to face years of pay cuts.
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“They are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families because the Bank has unjustly imposed a below-inflation or zero pay rise."
Unite said the strike, the first at the Bank for more than 50 years, was being solidly supported.
A Bank of England spokesman said plans were in place to ensure essential business will continue to operate as normal during the strike.
The Bank said Unite balloted only around two per cent of the workforce, adding that it remained ready to continue talks at any time.
The three-day strike will also overlap with this week's crucial interest rate decision at the 323-year-old Bank.