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Civilian staff at the Metropolitan Police have voted for the first time to strike, after being told they may not work from home so often.
Union members claim managers have gone back on a deal that allowed them to work from home part of the week.
Around 2,400 staff, who support the everyday work of police officers, have been told they must go into the office more frequently.
Depending on where they work, those who have been travelling in on two days were ordered to increase that to three; those doing three must increase that to four, and those doing four in the office were told they must go in full-time.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said the changes would disproportionately affect women, part-time workers and those with disabilities.
In a ballot, 85 per cent of members who voted supported taking strike action, and 91 per cent voted for action short of a strike.
The union said it was the first time Met Police staff had voted for industrial action, and it “showed the depth of feeling” about the policy.
Union general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are not bobbies on the beat. They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were disappointed the union felt such action was necessary, adding: “Our policy doesn’t end working from home. We have given staff and officers in support roles the ability to work from home up to two days a week.
“Our plans will provide consistency across the Met and ensure we can deliver for our communities.
“Although the threshold for strike action has been met, it doesn’t have to go ahead, and we urge our staff and the union not to take further action.”
Working from home became standard during the pandemic lockdowns, but politicians such as former Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg frowned on it.
Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, has said flexible arrangements are beneficial for productivity.
And teachers will be allowed to work from home to do marking and lesson planning under a government plan to boost recruitment to the profession.
