Union condemns plans to close DWP centre

A union has described plans to close a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) centre in Lincoln as a "callous decision".

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said around 128 people risk losing their jobs if the centre in Lincoln City Hall was shut.

The Lincoln Jobcentre is not affected and will remain open.

A DWP spokesperson said that affected staff would be "fully supported and redeployed" in other government departments.

The PCS claimed any redeployment opportunities would be "40 miles away and an hour travel by public transport".

"Lincoln also suffers from a depressed labour market which means there will be limited job opportunities outside of DWP which is a significant large employer in the community, " the PCS added.

"We are urging the DWP to change their strategy and stop putting jobs unnecessarily at risk."

The union said it was organising meetings for affected members and would lobby local MPs about the closure.

In a statement the DWP said there would be "no impact on the Jobcentre or Health Assessment Centre".

It added: "This move only impacts Service and Support Centre staff who do not see customers face-to-face.

"All impacted staff will be fully supported and redeployed within the Department, or other government departments as a priority.

"We are transitioning from small numbers of colleagues working in multiple sites, to fewer, larger more economically viable sites."

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