Glenrothes HMRC job cuts are a '˜disgrace'

The 12 staff members at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs office at the Saltire Centre each received an email on Tuesday informing them that they will lose their jobs by September and that the office will close for good.

The move follows the axing of 54 jobs from the Glenrothes office in August 2014.

The job cuts were part of an estimated 2000 job losses following a huge restructuring programme which involved the closure of 17 of the 18 existing Scottish offices and the creation of two new ‘super centres’ at Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Gary Stein, PCS Union branch chairman, representing the staff told the Gazette HMRC’s handling of the redundancies has been “disgraceful.

“At the same time as HMRC are making staff in Glenrothes compulsory redundant they are recruiting in other Scottish locations which is a bitter pill for our Fife members to swallow.

“Most of the existing staff have between 30 and 40 years service and feel they are being driven out of employment as they have been told they cannot be redeployed.

“This also signals the complete withdrawal of HMRC as an employer from Fife which will impact the local economy.

“The sad reality is that HMRC currently have a huge monthly overtime bill estimated at a round £6m, they should be looking to recruit new staff and cut that bill, not get rid of experienced and dedicated employees.”

Peter Grant, MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife, met with members of PCS trade union to discuss the closure plans and offer his support for the remaining staff.

Mr Grant, who has already written to the UK Government to express concern about the proposed closures, said: “The Government’s decision to close local offices seems short sighted, especially given the pressures already experienced by the service.

“It seems unlikely this decision can be changed, but I am working with SNP colleagues to oppose any further closures.

“I will do all I can to provide support to local employees affected.”