Highbury Magistrates' Court staff could walk out on strike over Covid safety
Alan Jones, PA
Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. - Credit: Archant
Staff at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court could strike in protest at what they see as inadequate Covid-19 safety procedures.
Court staff - primarily ushers and support staff - who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are being balloted in the coming weeks over potential strike action.
The PCS is calling for courts to be closed, with critical cases conducted virtually, until an impact assessment is carried out and the government agrees to test staff regularly and implement further safety measures.
Highbury Magistrates' Court deals mainly with cases from Camden, Islington, Haringey and Hackney.
There is also a Youth Court at the Holloway Road premises.
You may also want to watch:
Staff at Snaresbrook and Southwark Crown Court are also being balloted.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said staff were ""deeply concerned for their safety".
Most Read
- 1 Leaseholders in low-rise buildings fear cladding scandal bills
- 2 Facebook bans breastfeeding campaign ads starring Hackney mum
- 3 Steve Allen: My problem with phone-y scam calls
- 4 Baby Edward: Police confirm biological mother was found
- 5 Architecture review: The 'competing hands' of building a city
- 6 Regular testing 'vital' for secondary students, says Hackney's deputy mayor
- 7 24-hour DJ set raises thousands for mental health charity
- 8 Maureen Colquhoun remembered as 'political fighter for justice and truth'
- 9 Scheme to help young Hackney people kickstart their careers
- 10 Hackney activist denies racism but resigns from diversity commission
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said justice must "continue to be delivered" despite the pandemic and said every court building met Covid-secure guidelines.
They added: "It is simply untrue to suggest people are at an elevated risk of infection when at a court or tribunal.”
